A WELSH charity and a gas distribution company are teaming up to support vulnerable older people in Penarth and Cardiff.
Wales & West Utilities is sponsoring Age Cymru’s HandyVan service for 12 months and providing carbon monoxide detectors to distribute to HandyVan clients.
The HandyVan service helps older people in Penarth and Cardiff by making their homes safer and secure by carrying out small household repairs such as installing smoke alarms.
The partnership was launched on April 23 at Splott Market in Cardiff during Business in the Community’s ‘Responsible Business Week’.
Wales & West Utilities’ corporate affairs manager, Jaime Falarczyk says: “We are delighted to be sponsoring Age Cymru’s HandyVan service. Wales & West Utilities and Age Cymru share the same goals of wanting to help keep vulnerable older people safe in their homes, so this partnership makes real sense for us to combine forces with a common aim.
“Through Age Cymru’s HandyVan service, we will be helping to educate older people about gas safety and the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
“Carbon monoxide is known as ‘The silent killer’ and it kills 40 people a year across the UK, injuring thousands more.
“It is released by household appliances such as oil and gas boilers or log burners that haven’t been installed properly or are poorly maintained, or flues, chimneys or vents that are blocked.
“This partnership will help us to keep more gas customers in Penarth and Cardiff safe from the dangers of CO poisoning.”
Age Cymru’s chief executive, Ian Thomas says: “We’re very glad to have Wales & West Utilities’ support for HandyVan.
“We’re also very happy to be working with a company that shares the same values and goals as Age Cymru to improve the lives of older people in Penarth and Cardiff.”
Wales & West Utilities is celebrating 10 years of delivering gas safely and securely to more than 2.5 million homes and businesses across Wales and the south west of England.
It does not sell gas - it transports it, and more than 7.5 million customers rely on it to do so.
Age Cymru is Wales’ largest and leading charity for older people and works for nationally and locally - through local charity partners.
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