Charities helping the vulnerable get £125,000 from Battersea Power Station developers

Charities and organisations combating the problems of vulnerable groups will be able to apply for an extra £125,000 from a developer.

Battersea Power Station is offering a further £125,000 to Wandsworth and Lambeth charities which focus on digital poverty, hunger, mental health issues, domestic violence and supporting the elderly during isolation.

A partnership has been formed with the London Community Response Fund, which supports groups impacted by COVID-19 across London.

The BPS Foundation has already contributed £25,000 to charities through lockdown – including Age UK Wandsworth, which provides support to the elderly, especially to those who have underlying health conditions and have been asked to self-isolate for three months.

St George’s Hospital Charity has also been given cash to help support its coronavirus appeal; as has the Wandsworth Foodbank which helps tackle the ever more prominent food poverty crisis and he Power to Connect Campaign.

Battersea Power Station and Wandsworth council jointly launched the Power to Connect campaign, to help with digital exclusion during the COVID-19 outbreak.

It aims to support disadvantaged families and NHS patients across the local community who are finding it difficult to stay connected. It offers refurbished laptops or tablets that have been donated and top-up data vouchers to access the internet.

Datuk Wong Tuck Wai, Trustee of the BPS Foundation and Chairman of Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), said: “Supporting local communities sits at the heart of our core values and we continue to explore innovative and resourceful ways in which to do so. We hope this additional funding will help ensure the most vulnerable are supported as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.

“In addition to this funding, I am also very proud of our staff members who are volunteering to support charities in many ways across the community at this difficult time.”

Lord Strathclyde, Chairman of the Battersea Power Station Foundation said: “We are delighted that the Foundation is able to support these causes and reach out to our neighbours. For us, it’s important that at such a difficult time, in particular, we stand alongside the local causes doing so much amazing work for those in need.”

Amerjit Chohan, CEO of St George’s Hospital Charity, said: “Although this is an extremely challenging time for everyone at the hospital, we are joined in this effort by individuals and companies who show their support every day in different ways.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are to the Battersea Power Station Foundation for their generous donation of £5,000. The funds will be used to help buy much needed medical equipment and supplies, providing mental health support and welfare initiatives to support staff and more.”