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Bringing Barking & Dagenham Together: A Community Day to Remember
LASER and npower Business Solutions (nBS) collaborated to host a fun and supportive community day for the residents of Barking & Dagenham.
- Local Authorities
LASER and nPower Business Solutions (nBS) came together in 2024 to develop a Social Value plan as part of the 2024 – 2028 Electricity Flexible Procurement and Supply Framework, and collectively decided to focus on the Social Value Fund provided by nBS for Food Banks.
nBS donated £100,000 for funding to food banks for the supply period October 2024 – September 2025, and the aim was to deliver value to local communities of the Participating Authorities that we work with as our customers.
There were a number of reasons why food banks were chosen:
Participating Authorities were each allocated a proportion of the funding and they needed to nominate their own chosen Food Bank Charity and it was great to see so many being nominated for this support.
Below is a collection of feedback from some of the nominated food banks, sharing how this amazing funding has helped their local communities.
“It has been a busy few months at the Lancing and Sompting Churches Foodbank. We have seen an increase in users which we suspect to be a result of the ever-increasing cost of living. We are hearing familiar stories of families, parents, and individuals having to choose between buying food and putting the heating on as the days get colder. We have also seen an increase in pensioners needing our help, as many are struggling to meet increased rent demand whilst living off the state pension.”
“Thank you very much for your support for Leyland Foodbank. The money you donated to us has been spent on tinned and packets of food, some household items, and supermarket vouchers. In January and February, we supported 157 families, comprising 324 individuals. Clients receive items of non- perishable foods weekly, as well as supermarket vouchers and household items monthly.”
“Thank you so much for the wonderful donation of over £600. The Purfleet Trust has been a vital part of the King’s Lynn community for over 30 years, supporting thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness. In response to growing local needs, we established The Purfleet Pantry two years ago, located just off the Southgates Roundabout in South Lynn. Your generous donation enables us to continue this vital work, helping us provide fresh, high-quality, and affordable food to those who need it most in our community.”
“Flintshire Foodbank were thrilled to receive a grant of £1,006.71 from nBS and LASER Energy. As a local, independent charity we raise all our own funds. Every donation we receive helps us to continue to support people in Flintshire experiencing crisis and hunger. The donation covered the cost of 20 family parcels. Each family parcel provides three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced food for 2 adults and 2 children. In addition to food, we provide toiletries, sanitary products, and laundry detergent. Because of the donation, 40 adults and 40 children have been able to go to school and work with full stomachs, have had a warm meal in the evening, have been able to go out clean and washed and have felt the sense of dignity and nourishment that we all deserve. Thank you for supporting Flintshire Foodbank, enabling us to provide food to 20 families experiencing food poverty and crisis.”
“The Community Storehouse would like to give you our thanks for procuring the funding donation. Thank you for putting our charity forward in the first place, and to LASER and nPower for being willing to support the work which we are doing in our local community around Paddock Wood. With donations received from local businesses, organisations and many individuals such as yourselves, we’re able to support those in our local communities who find themselves in difficult circumstances and struggle to feed themselves and their families.”
On behalf of all the food banks and our staff at LASER, we want to thank nBS for their generosity towards social value and making a difference for the communities of our customers.
LASER and npower Business Solutions (nBS) collaborated to host a fun and supportive community day for the residents of Barking & Dagenham.
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council commits to reaching net zero targets by 2030
On Wednesday 2nd July, we were thrilled to head over to the University of Greenwich, Medway campus to take part in The Green STEM Showcase launched by Social Enterprise Kent (SEK). Join us, as we journey through the event.