Wessex establishes community fund

Wessex Water has announced a multi-million-pound foundation to help people in its communities worst affected by the coronavirus crisis.

There will be three parts to the foundation: immediate emergency support; a recovery fund to support groups and communities worst hit by the pandemic and a permanent fund from 2021 giving at least £500,000 each year in grants to local charitable organisations.

The funding scheme will be for projects across Wessex’s region and run in partnership with community foundations from Quartet, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset.

Colin Skellett, Wessex’s chief executive, said: “Being at the heart of the communities we serve is nothing new for us, but the Wessex Water Foundation is a new way of making sure we’re helping the people who need it most.

“It’s been an incredibly tough time for everyone in our region and supporting emergency coronavirus response projects is a fitting place to start.”

Initially money will be given regionally to charities and community groups helping people through the coronavirus emergency. Later in the year Wessex Water Recovery Fund will seek applications to help respond to the economic situation caused by the pandemic.

Wessex Water Foundation will give upwards of half a million pounds each year from 2021 to support community projects, debt advisory services and charities that help people affected by poverty because of poor mental and physical health, hunger, housing or unemployment.

Chief executive of Ofwat, Rachel Fletcher, has championed the idea of the water sector putting social purpose at the heart of their businesses, which has seen several companies establish community funding programmes. Her sentiment was repeated in April when she warned companies of the growing public scrutiny coronavirus was putting on all businesses and implored all companies to do all they could to support their customers and communities.