Calderdale charities receive Yorkshire Water fund

Calderdale Forum 50 Plus and Disability Partnership Calderdale will receive grants from the water company.

The funding will support community groups and charities to deliver their services and to raise awareness of Yorkshire Water’s priority services to encourage those who would benefit from it to sign up.

The Yorkshire Water’s priority services help customers who may be significantly impacted if they can’t access water for a short period of time, or people who need to tailor their interaction with the utility company to ensure they have a positive experience.

Ash Roberts, customer vulnerability manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting some fantastic local charities through our vulnerability fund.

By working together to raise awareness of our priority services, we’ll be able to reach more customers and demonstrate its benefits to those that need it most.”

Malcolm Kielty MBE, chair of Calderdale Forum 50 Plus said: “We represent and connect with people aged over 50 in Calderdale, keeping them up to date on the issues that matter to them and making sure their voice is heard in local consultations. We plan to use our popular website, social media, email newsletters and personal relationships to tell older people about the priority services register, help them understand how it can benefit them and encourage them to sign up.“

Julie Stott from Disability Partnership Calderdale said: “We are really pleased to be working in partnership with Yorkshire Water, to raise awareness of the priority services register and to help increase the number of people who register for the support that is available. As a charity, our key aim is to enable disabled people in Calderdale and surrounding areas to live as independently as possible by signposting to, and providing information about, services that are relevant to them.”

Of Yorkshire Water’s services, Ash Roberts added: “Customers on our priority services register can disclose any additional needs they may have, and tailor their account to meet their requirements. We can support customers who have sight problems or are hard of hearing, have home dialysis, use a wheelchair, have mobility concerns, are a new parent, are concerned about unwanted callers, or would like someone else to manage their account.

“Signing up to the priority services register helps us understand day to day customer needs, as well as in the event of planned work, or an emergency repair, so we can make sure they get the assistance they need as soon as possible.

“We’re pleased to be supporting Calderdale Forum 50 Plus and Disability Partnership Calderdale and look forward to welcoming more customers to our priority services register.”

For more information on Yorkshire Water’s priority services register visit www.yorkshirewater.com/bill-account/priority-services-register