Stirling Observer

Firm teams up with Stirling foodbank

Superglass to cover 50% of home starter pack costs

- KAIYA MARJORIBAN­KS

A Stirling-based business has partnered up with a local foodbank charity to help local people combat rising energy costs.

Superglass, an insulation manufactur­er, has pledged to cover 50 per cent of the costs of Start Up Stirling’s Home Starter pack programme during the winter months.

This will help hundreds of people living in hardship throughout the Stirling Council area remain warm while saving money on energy bills.

Usage of the charity’s food bank operation alone skyrockete­d by more than 30 per cent up to October 2022 compared with the year 2019, with almost 1437 food bank referrals in 2022.

The financial support from Stirlingba­sed Superglass will help create additional tenancy packs with weighted blankets, warm socks, hot water bottles and flasks.

The packs are designed to help local people moving into new accommodat­ion, to make their new house a home, as well as helping them to save money on their fuel bills.

Some of the items in the pack will be provided by Superglass themselves alongside the financial support.

With the sharp rise in energy prices in the last 12 months, the two organisati­ons have brought together their shared values and sector experience to bring help to those in need.

Start Up Stirling’s Home Starter packs help give people the best chance of succeeding in new tenancies.

The additional tenancy packs will include a guide of practical steps, provided by Superglass, to help tenants keep energy bills down.

The guide is publicly available on the Superglass website.

Superglass staff will also support Start Up Stirling through a volunteeri­ng programme.

Research has shown that people in rural locations spend between 10 and 20 per cent more on everyday requiremen­ts than urban areas.

This means rising fuel, energy and supermarke­t costs have a disproport­ionate effect on them.

Through targeting support in the city of Stirling and rural towns and villages throughout the Stirling Council area, both Superglass and Start Up Stirling hope to mitigate this for local communitie­s.

Theresa Mclean, CEO of Superglass, said: “Superglass has been a major employer in Stirling for decades and we are committed to supporting our local community.

“The work that Start Up Stirling does is vital in supporting people in our area and we’re very proud to support them.

“Our expertise lies in keeping buildings warm and energy bills low.

“It’s important that in these times of spiralling energy cost, we make sure the most vulnerable people in our community can keep warm this winter.

“The guide we have produced is available on our website for anybody who needs it.”

Julie Christie, communitie­s and fundraisin­g manager for Start Up Stirling, said: “Since the charity’s formation in 1994, our focus has been on helping people who are experienci­ng hardship throughout the Stirling Council area with our services.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of businesses like Superglass, particular­ly in terms of helping people keep warm over what will be a very challengin­g winter for many people.”

For further informatio­n or to view the keep warm guide, please visit: https://www.superglass.co.uk/start-up-stirlingbr­ochure/www.superglass.co.uk/start-up-stirlingbr­ochure/w

 ?? ?? Support Theresa Mclean, CEO of Superglass
Support Theresa Mclean, CEO of Superglass

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom