National Grid has today (Thursday) announced that it will be making a GBP500,000 donation to support key appeals from the National Emergencies Trust (NET) and the Trussell Trust, which supports the UK's largest network of food banks.
The company has donated GBP400,000 to the NET's Coronavirus Appeal, which is working to raise funds for local charities and grassroots organisations that can provide vital support to the most vulnerable people in the quickest possible way.
A further GBP100,000 has been committed to the Trussell Trust to support its network of 1,200 food banks, which aims to provide a minimum of three days' worth of nutritionally-balanced food to people who have been referred in crisis. National Grid is also working with the Trust to develop a volunteer programme for employees across the country.
National Grid's UK Executive Director, Nicola Shaw, said: 'We are proud to support these two important charities and to be playing our part in helping the most vulnerable in society. I hope that through these contributions, we will be able to quickly get help to the many elderly, homeless and families living in poverty at this troubling time.'
Lord Dannatt, Chairman of the National Emergencies Trust, said: 'We're incredibly grateful for the generous donation from National Grid. Thanks to the collective efforts of early leaders like National Grid, businesses, charitable trusts and the public, we have now raised an incredible GBP11m in our first week for our Coronavirus Appeal. The money raised is already making its way out to local grassroots organisations and small charities to provide vital support to those who need it most, as quickly as possible. Together we can make a real difference to the people most impacted by this crisis.'
Sophie Carre, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the Trussell Trust, said: 'As the coronavirus pandemic develops, we are working closely with our food banks to support them to continue to provide the lifeline of emergency food for people in crisis. We're extremely grateful for the support from National Grid, which helps us remain agile to respond to the changing situation and deploy resources to support those most vulnerable throughout this time.'
To find out more about National Grid's response to coronavirus, visit: https://www.nationalgrid.com/group/responsibility-and-sustainability/how-we-are-responding-to-coronavirus
Contact:
Tel: +44(0)7817 091291
About National Emergencies Trust
The National Emergencies Trust is a charity set up to raise funds from the general public in the event of a domestic disaster or emergency. When a disaster hits, the Trust will collaborate with charities and other bodies to raise and distribute money and support victims. The funds collected will be distributed by local partners on the ground in the areas affected by the emergency event.
The National Emergencies Trust is a registered charity no. 1182809.
About the Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust is an anti-poverty charity that supports a network of more than 1,200 food bank centres across the UK.
It takes more than food to end hunger. The Trussell Trust therefore does three things: supports its network to provide emergency food to people referred; helps food banks to provide on-site additional help or signpost people to relevant local charities to resolve the cause of referral and brings together the experiences of hundreds of communities on the front line to challenge the structural issues that lock people in poverty, and campaign for long-term change so we can see a future without the need for food banks.
Read more at trusselltrust.org
Notes to Editors: National Grid is pivotal to the energy systems in the UK and the north eastern United States. We aim to serve customers well and efficiently, supporting the communities in which we operate and making possible the energy systems of the future.
National Grid in the UK
We own and operate the electricity transmission network in England and Wales, with day-to-day responsibility for balancing supply and demand. We also operate, but do not own, the Scottish networks. Our networks comprise approximately 7,200 kilometres (4,474 miles) of overhead line, 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) of underground cable and 342 substations.
We own and operate the gas National Transmission System in Great Britain, with day-to-day responsibility for balancing supply and demand. Our network comprises approximately 7,660 kilometres (4,760 miles) of high-pressure pipe and 618 above-ground installations.
As Great Britain's System Operator (SO) we make sure gas and electricity is transported safely and efficiently from where it is produced to where it is consumed. From April 2019, Electricity System Operator (ESO) is a new standalone business within National Grid, legally separate from all other parts of the National Grid Group. This will provide the right environment to deliver a balanced and impartial ESO that can realise real benefits for consumers as we transition to a more decentralised, decarbonised electricity system.
Other UK activities mainly relate to businesses operating in competitive markets outside of our core regulated businesses; including interconnectors, gas metering activities and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) importation terminal - all of which are now part of National Grid Ventures. National Grid Property is responsible for the management, clean-up and disposal of surplus sites in the UK. Most of these are former gas works.
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