Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4TA) has been awarded £1,335 through Electrical Safety First’s Electrical Safety Fund, with the money set to support its work testing donated appliances before they are rehomed with Derby households in need.
The funding will allow DF4TA to train five volunteers from Jericho House Derby in appliance safety testing, increasing the charity’s ability to check donated fridges, freezers and fridge freezers quickly and safely through its Furniture and Electrical Project.
The charity supports people across Derby who are trying to rebuild their lives after difficult circumstances, including homelessness, domestic abuse, hospital discharge and other major setbacks. For many households, having a working fridge or freezer is a vital step in getting back on track.
By expanding its testing capacity, DF4TA says it will be able to rehome more appliances at a very low cost, usually around £20 to £30, making them accessible to people who might otherwise go without.
The project is expected to directly help around 100 households, benefiting roughly 200 people, while also sharing electrical safety advice through DF4TA’s network of volunteers, referral partners, supporters and local businesses.
Ann Mills, Furniture and Electrical Project Coordinator at DF4TA, said: “A safe fridge or freezer can be the difference between a family getting back on their feet or going without the basics.
“This funding means we can safety-test more donated fridges, freezers and fridge freezers here in Derby and get them into homes faster — at a price people can afford. It also gives volunteers from Jericho House Derby a recognised practical skill they can take forward as they rebuild their own lives.”
One of the volunteers who completed the training, Scott, said the course had given him an important opportunity to move forward.
He said: “I chose to do the PAT testing course to gain a practical qualification that can help me move towards stable employment.
“I’m not long out of rehab and I don’t have much formal education, so this opportunity through Food for Thought is a positive step forward. It’s helping me rebuild, learn useful skills and contribute to the community in a constructive way.”
The grant will cover a bespoke on-site PAT testing course for the five volunteers, delivered by Plugtest, as well as essential safety equipment and materials including PPE, related safety training, safety posters, a first-aid kit and ID badges or uniform.
DF4TA also hopes to expand the project further by introducing washing machine testing in the future, although the charity says that will depend on finding a suitable space or site where this can be done safely.
Any local business able to offer premises or support for that next stage of the project is being encouraged to get in touch.
The Electrical Safety Fund is an annual grant scheme run by Electrical Safety First, offering grants of up to £5,000 for projects across the UK that help reduce domestic electrical risks and improve safety in the home.
Lesley Rudd, chief executive at Electrical Safety First, said: “We are delighted to award this grant to Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4TA).
“Our Electrical Safety Fund is designed to empower groups to help keep local people in their communities safe.”