Age Connects Torfaen has won significant funding to deliver a project, which will help older people living throughout Torfaen reduce electrical safety risks within their homes. The project provides free electrical safety checks of household appliances, to help people recognise and prevent common electrical hazards in their home.
The grant award of £6500 will be spent on delivering a series of Electrical Safety MOT events inviting older people to bring their small household electrical items to get checked and if appropriate they will be repaired or replaced.
Emma Wootten Chief Executive Officer at Age Connects Torfaen says; “Through this electrical safety project, Age Connects Torfaen will be able to make a real difference to the safety and wellbeing of older people in our community. Many older people continue to use ageing household appliances because they simply cannot afford to replace them. By helping identify potentially unsafe electrical items and providing access to brand-new replacements, we can reduce risks within the home, improve safety and ease financial pressures. This project also gives us another opportunity to reach vulnerable older people, understand their wider needs and connect them with additional support. Ultimately, it is about helping people live safely, independently and with peace of mind in their own homes.”
The Electrical Safety Fund is an annual grant scheme run by the charity Electrical Safety First. The Fund provides £1,000,000 to support community projects across the UK that aim to reduce domestic electrical risks.
Around half of all domestic fires in the UK are caused by electricity, with most of those arising from electrical products.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive at Electrical Safety First, says: “We are delighted to award this grant to Age Connects Torfaen. Our Electrical Safety Fund is designed to empower groups to help keep local people in their communities safe. Our website provides free advice for everyone to avoid fatal electrical fires and shocks in their home – visit electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk.”
