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We at the Warm Welcome Campaign have been working closely with OVO this autumn and winter, as the energy company delivers £56m of support for people.
On 24 September, OVO announced a £56m Extra Support package which included free heated blankets and heat pumps to eligible households.
The package came as the energy giant continues to call for a social tariff to protect those who cannot afford to heat their homes through the sustained period of high prices to come.
David Barclay, Warm Welcome Campaign Director, said the Warm Welcome Campaign is "pleased to be working closely with OVO again this winter," adding: "Through our partnership, we will be helping our Warm Welcome Spaces across the country become places where people can receive meaningful practical support to help get them through the hardest months of the year.”
David also spoke at the official launch of the OVO winter support package, in Glasgow in October, saying: “The challenges we are facing this winter are real, but the well of kindness and compassion in our communities is deep, and if we innovate and build together we can tap into this unstoppable resource to turn things around for individuals and communities.”
The Warm Welcome team then met representatives from OVO at roadshows at Warm Welcome Spaces in Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow, Newport and Portsmouth throughout October and November. OVO handed out heated blankets, smart sockets and energy saving lightbulbs to people while Warm Welcome spread news of its growing national network of more than 5,800 registered Warm Welcome Spaces.
Lucy said of the event in Portsmouth: “It was so encouraging to see people being helped – for the second time this year – at Spark Community Space. OVO’s advice and practical support, especially with the free heated blankets, was appreciated by large numbers of the community there.”
Ria said of the Bristol event: “This was a brilliant OVO event at Lockleaze neighbourhood trust!” A guest at the Lockleaze OVO event said: “I’ve been leaving my heating on low as I thought that’s what you had to do- now I know I can turn it off and with my new smart thermostat I can turn it on using my phone-amazing. I can’t thank you enough.”
Molly said of the Coventry event: “It was amazing to see the power of word-of-mouth in action. Attendees to the Coventry Roadshow grew rapidly in number as the day went on, with so many locals reaping the benefits of OVO’s support. It was great to be there representing Warm Welcome, signposting attendees to our spaces but also connecting with other local support organisations to explore better ways to work together.”
Myra said of the Newport event: “The OVO event at the Newport Yemeni Community Association was a complete sell-out event. When we arrived, there were queues all the way down the street. Members of the local community could not wait to come inside, meet the OVO team, and get their OVO goodies. There was so much warmth and welcome in the room, with the OVO team working their socks off to make sure everyone got a heated blanket and everything on offer. “
There have also been OVO roadshows at Warm Welcome Spaces in Dundee and Newcastle.
Three more OVO roadshows are planned before Christmas in Swansea, London and Inverness, with a further eight planned for Warm Welcome Week from 19-25 January.
We’re delighted to be working so closely with OVO in this way, with particular thanks to Steven Donovan, consumer vulnerability lead at OVO, who is masterminding the roadshow events up and down the UK.
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