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Gas emergency and pipeline service Wales & West Utilities has extended its partnership with Westbank Community Health and Care (Westbank) to donate 100 ‘warm bags’ which will now be distributed through its recently launched Warmwell at Home initiative.

Wales & West Utilities donated 150 thermal hats and gloves before Christmas which were distributed through the charity’s food larders and warm space initiative. They have continued their support by donating bags containing hand warmers, a thermometer, pair of thermal socks, travel mug, hat and gloves, hot water bottle and a large blanket.

The bags are being provided to people in the local community who need extra support during the winter months and Westbank is working in collaboration with Community Support workers, GP and health practitioners, as well as local primary schools, to extend its support.

Katie Elliott, Head of Fundraising and Marketing at Westbank, said:

We were delighted to get our Warmwell at Home initiative up and running in a short period of time and are already helping many local people.

We are thrilled that Wales & West Utilities has extended its support so that we can provide additional help to those who are most in need of our support during the colder months.

Warmwell at Home is run from the Howarth Room, at the organisation’s base in Exminster and is open Monday – Friday between 10am – 4pm. The space houses a lounge and dining area where, as well as hot drinks, people can help themselves to a free bowl of nourishing soup and stock up on produce from the food larder and community fridge.

L-R Wales & West Utilities Scott Pengilley, Katie Elliott, Westbank Head of Fundraising & Marketing with Wales & West Utilities Louise Alfaresi

Louise Alfaresi, Wales & West Utilities First Line Manager for Exeter, is responsible for establishing the partnership. She said:

We know how much of a positive difference the hats and gloves made to local people and, so when we learnt of the Warmwell at Home launch, we wanted to provide extra support particularly with the recent cold weather.

The Warmwell at Home initiative is going a long way to providing a safe and warm space for people to drop in for as long as they want, and we hope the ‘warm bags’ reach and help those people who need it the most.

Katie continued:

On behalf of us all, I’d like to thank Wales & West Utilities for taking the time put together the warm bags. With the cold weather we are seeing more people in need of our support, and they will make such a difference to those in need.

Westbank Community Health and Care works to empower and improve the health of communities and individuals across Devon.

Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night.