Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is extending its support to communities and customers during the coronavirus outbreak with a donation of £40,000 to Citizens Advice.
The funding is assisting the charities Citizens Advice Hampshire and Citizens Advice Scotland in remotely delivering a much-needed and valued service as they respond to the impact that the virus continues to have on communities across SSEN's distribution areas.
Citizens Advice Hampshire provides support by acting as a single point of contact for funders, partners and policy makers, which enables collaboration with other charities and organisations. This means they can provide a wealth of information and guidance; last year alone, the charity dealt directly with hundreds of thousands of people across the UK, seeking advice on areas including healthcare, energy and finance.
SSEN and Citizens Advice Scotland joined forces last year to support households and help reduce fuel poverty, with SSEN funding four energy advisers to support local Citizens Advice Bureaux already providing a vital advice service in the north of Scotland.
As people find themselves vulnerable, physically, mentally or financially, as a result of coronavirus and the measures being taken during the outbreak, SSEN has gifted Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Hampshire £20,000 each to help them accommodate the additional needs of those contacting the charity.
Managing Director of SSEN, Colin Nicol, said:
"At Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, we understand that we remain in uncertain times and we want to support our communities and customers.
"Citizens Advice is delivering crucial energy advice services, in addition to the many other areas of guidance they provide, to the thousands of people who contact them each year. This is a difficult and challenging time for many people and through this donation we know we can help the charity to extend the vital support they provide.
"I'd like to reassure our customers that SSEN continues to work closely with Government, Ofgem and other network operators to protect and support our customers, colleagues and communities. While the significant challenge posed by the of the coronavirus remains, I want our customers to know that we are working in accordance with Government guidelines to keep their power flowing, safely and reliably, and helping our nation respond to the coronavirus pandemic."
Paul Bright, CEO of Citizens Advice Hampshire said:
"We are delighted to have the support of SSEN through this significant funding which will enable our teams to provide additional support to existing Citizens Advice clients with energy issues during this difficult time.
"The award, which will also be used to help vulnerable customers access additional services such as SSEN's Priority Services Register, is most welcome and its benefits will bring much needed support across the whole of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight."
Derek Mitchell, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Scotland, added:
"During this unprecedented crisis people need the help and support of the Citizens Advice network in Scotland more than ever. The levels of demand for advice have risen significantly and we have been expanding our delivery platforms to meet that challenge.
"This generous support from SSEN has helped to facilitate that process and to ensure that our services can be available to people who need our help during this challenging time. This is not the first time SSEN has given financial assistance to our network, and we appreciate their ongoing support."
To find out more about the work being done by Citizens Advice in Scotland and across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, please go to: https://www.cas.org.uk/ and https://www.citahants.org/.
To find out more about SSEN's Priority Services Register, please go to www.ssen.co.uk/psr, where SSEN's multi-language PSR leaflets can also be accessed and downloaded.