MS Society and Global Action Plan chosen for their sustainability credentials
Each charity partner will benefit from match funding of up to £100,000
EDF Energy is delighted to announce the appointment of Global Action Plan and the MS Society as its two new national charity partners.
EDF Energy will be working with Global Action Plan and the MS Society for an initial 12 months, commencing March 2009. The decision to choose two concurrent new national charity partners is a first for EDF Energy.
This new deal also builds on the successful existing charity partnership the MS Society already had with British Energy, which became part of EDF Energy earlier this year.
Both charities were chosen for their ability to inspire customers and employees towards a more sustainable and socially responsible lifestyle. The partnerships will support the delivery of EDF Energy’s Climate and Social Commitments, the biggest package of environmental and social initiatives announced by any UK energy company.
The charities will benefit financially as EDF Energy will match the amount raised by employees by up to £100,000 for each charity partner. Through its partnership with the MS Society, EDF Energy will provide funding and energy advice to help people and their families to handle the impact of living with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The energy company will also support Global Action Plan’s various community-based programmes such as ‘Evergreen’, which brings volunteers to housing associations and supported living schemes for older people to work on environmental projects so they can improve the quality of life for their residents.
Eva Eisenschimmel, Chief Officer, People, Organisation and Brand Performance at EDF Energy, said: “As one of the UK’s largest energy companies, we are keen to support charities which inspire people towards a more sustainable lifestyle. We chose Global Action Plan and the MS Society as they demonstrate values very closely aligned to our own.
“We hope our partnerships with these charities will create increased awareness of both the social and environmental aspects of sustainability and we are very excited about the new opportunities these partnerships present. We are pleased to be building on the success of British Energy’s existing relationship with the MS Society.”
Global Action Plan is a national environmental charity that helps people to make positive changes to reduce their environmental impact. Trewin Restorick, CEO of Global Action Plan said: “The alarm bells from the world's scientists are ringing louder then ever telling us that we must take urgent action to fight climate change. To address this huge challenge new and innovative partnerships are needed.
Global Action Plan is thrilled to have been chosen as one of EDF Energy's charity partners. We believe that together we will create a range of dynamic new initiatives that will help people to cut carbon and save money.”
EDF Energy has always taken its responsibility to vulnerable customers very seriously, which is exemplified by the products it offers such as Energy Assist and the EDF Energy Trust. Through its partnership with EDF Energy, the MS Society will be able to enhance and target its support, as their Chief Executive, Simon Gillespie explained:
“The support of EDF Energy will help us to provide valuable support, information and advice for people living with MS. We’ll also be using this partnership to help us raise awareness and understanding of the condition with employee awareness sessions at EDF Energy’s offices across the UK.”
EDF Energy’s partnership with Mencap came to a close in 2007, having raised £755,000 over three years. The partnerships with the two new charities is designed to complement EDF Energy’s existing CSR and community investment strategies such as EDF Energy’s award winning Helping Hands programme. Through this scheme, every EDF Energy employee is encouraged to spend two paid days a year volunteering in the local community.
EDF Energy is already working with its new charity partners to create new volunteering opportunities for its employees, extending the reach of this successful programme.
-Ends-
Jonathan Levy (EDF Energy) 0207 752 2265
Rajan Lakhani (EDF Energy) 0207 752 2196
Notes-to-editors:
EDF Energy:
The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The combined business is the UK’s largest producer of electricity.
With a current installed capacity of around 16.5GW, we produce almost one-quarter of the nation's electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms.
We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks in London, the South East and the East of England and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company. The company is also a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years. EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. The combined companies are part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Our Climate and Social Commitments:
EDF Energy’s Climate and Social Commitments together represent the biggest package of environmental and social initiatives launched by any UK energy company.
They outline how the company will reduce its own environmental impact, help customers reduce their energy carbon footprint and set out our proactive moves on key social issues such as fuel poverty, protecting vulnerable customers and educating young people about the safe and sustainable use of energy.
These commitments demonstrate our role as a good corporate citizen and will help guide our journey to transform our business into a truly sustainable energy business provider.
MS Society:
The MS Society (www.mssociety.org.uk) is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to supporting everyone whose life is touched by MS, providing respite care, an award-winning freephone helpline (0808 800 8000), specialist MS nurses and funds around 40 vital MS research projects in the UK.
Multiple sclerosis is the most common disabling neurological disorder affecting young adults and an estimated 85,000 people in the UK have MS.
MS is the result of damage to myelin – the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system – which interferes with messages between the brain and the body.
For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern.
Symptoms range from loss of sight and mobility, fatigue, depression and cognitive problems. There is no cure and few effective treatments.
Global Action Plan:
Global Action Plan is an independent charity that helps organisations such as community, schools, SMEs and large corporations to change their environmental behaviour. Global Action Plan has developed proven techniques to engage stakeholders, showing them how to make small changes to their everyday behaviours that collectively can have a big impact. Through this model, they consistently achieve significant environmental and financial savings in the UK by empowering people to take action on energy, waste, water and transport. www.globalactionplan.org.uk