- The Electrical Safety Fund is open for applications from 1 September until 12 October
- A record £1 million will be available to local groups and organisations across the UK
- Grants can fund anything that fix, protect and prevent - from repair cafes to safer electrical installations
- Organisations and community groups encouraged to apply for grants of up to £5,000
A record £1 million will be available to local groups and organisations, funding initiatives to protect people from electrical risks in the home, a charity announces.
From Monday 1 September, applications will open as part of consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First’s annual Electrical Safety Fund, breathing life into local projects aimed at educating the public, protecting them against the risks posed by electrical dangers and encouraging safer consumer behaviours.
This year, the Fund is also open to organisations looking to deliver safer electrical installations in homes and communities.
Last year, the Fund supported more than 100 projects, reaching nearly half a million people across all parts of the United Kingdom and directly benefiting 47,000 individuals through initiatives, such as repair cafes, portable appliance testing and replacement events.
Immersive initiatives were also funded, including virtual reality experiences raising the profile of electrical dangers to school children, as well as theatre productions in schools and safety workshops for vulnerable groups.
Among them was Flosverse, an educational social enterprise based in Scotland that created a virtual reality experience allowing users to walk through a home and test their knowledge on whether its electrical appliances were being used safely or pose a risk.
Another project, the Safe Home Initiative led by electrical testing organisation Hawkesworth and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, tackled the growing risks posed by unsafe and often counterfeit electrical products sold online. They offered free home visits to vulnerable residents to carry out safety inspections, test electrical items and provide advice or replacements where needed.
Samuel Terry, Research and Outreach Manager at Electrical Safety First, said: “Our Electrical Safety Fund provides vital support to organisations working at the heart of their communities to keep people safe. Electricity is part of our everyday lives and often overlooked, but when the wiring or products in our homes are faulty, poorly made or misused, the consequences can be devastating.
“Last year, the fund supported more than 100 projects which reached thousands of people across the country. By backing innovative local projects that raise awareness, change behaviour and tackle dangerous electrical installations and products head-on, we can help prevent tragedies and make a real difference to people’s lives.”
Applications are encouraged from a range of not-for-profit organisations, including fire and rescue services, trading standards authorities, community safety organisations, charities and educational institutions.
Interested organisations and community groups have from Monday 1 September until Sunday 12 October to apply. To apply, please visit: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/fund