The power of practical support

The electrical sector has thousands of people who are struggling on a daily basis due to unforeseen circumstances in their lives and are in need of support from the industry to give them encouragement and a helping hand towards creating a better future.

Practical support and the unity of the industry can go an extraordinarily long way in drastically changing someone’s life. Therefore, to support people in our sector and help pensioners, apprentices, employees and their families in their time of need, the Electrical Industries Charity launched the Employee Assistance Programme of which the Practical Participation Programme is part of.

The Charity’s Practical Participation Programme harnesses the specialist skills of the industry in terms of equipment, time and materials to provide practical help when it is needed most. But to be able to continue providing practical and financial support to thousands of vulnerable people in our sector, the Charity needs the industry to get together and show their support. By joining the programme and volunteering your time, products and skills, you will help the Charity to change many of our colleagues’ quality of life.

Once you join the Programme, you will have an incredible opportunity to work alongside the Charity and its leading partners in reshaping many people’s lives. The Charity will approach you on an as-needed basis to ask for your practical assistance on specific projects that require building rectification or modification to assist with disability access. Asa partner of the Programme, you will also have a chance to provide services and materials on a voluntary basis and as a result, will dramatically help the Charity to reduce the cost of these projects.

Additionally, every year the Charity selects a major ‘Challenge for a Cause’ initiative to fundraise for, where the financial grant is just too big for the Charity to fund from its general grants. As part of its Challenge for a Cause, the Charity works together with partners of the Practical Participation Programme to help with all the necessary house adaptations needed to support a specific cause.

Through its Practical Participation Programme and the Challenge for a Cause campaign, over the years the Charity has helped many of our colleagues and their families to have a better future. This year the Charity is set to transform the lives of the Dickinson family and help Caz Dickinson with her development and care. The Charity aims to raise £250,000 through its full range of fundraising activities which will allow them to purchase a house, and through its Practical Participation Programme, work with industry partners to carry out all of the renovation work which is required to safeguard the future of Caz and her family.

Together as an industry, we can go a long way in ensuring that no one in our sector is suffering in silence at the toughest times in their lives by giving them a support network, show your support by joining the Practical Participation Programme today and help your industry colleagues to have a better life and look forward to the future.