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INDUSTRIAL AFFILIATES

WALES & WEST UTILITIES

PARTNERS WITH SCOUTS

TO RAISE AWARENESS THE NETWORK HAS HELPED TO CREATE A

NEW BADGE FOR YOUNGSTERS TO EARN
OF CARBON MONOXIDE people across the UK about the dangers
of carbon monoxide.
“This partnership extends our reach
in helping even more young people and
WALES & WEST UTILITIES has the knowledge they need to keep their families to stay safe all year round
partnered with The Scout Association themselves and their loved ones safe. in their own homes by understanding
to help educate young people about Four activities have already been the simple steps to take to stay safe,
the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) created for Beavers (6-8 years) and Cubs such as installing CO alarms and testing
and how to keep themselves and their (8-10 years), and plans are already in them regularly.
families safe from the ‘silent killer’. the pipeline for Scouts (10-14 years), “Sponsoring the Cubs Home Safety
Over the coming three years, Wales and Explorers (14-18 years). Cubs will Activity Badge is a great way of engaging
and West Utilities, alongside other now be able to earn their Cubs Home youngsters, and we know they will be
UK gas companies SGN, Cadent and Safety Activity Badge, which has been actively making sure their homes are
Northern Gas Networks, will be working sponsored by the gas networks, when safe from CO and any other potential
with Scouts to launch activities for all learning how to prevent accidents in dangers to gain their new badge.”
age groups between 6–18-year-olds, the home and gaining knowledge on Simon Carter from the Scouts
helping them to understand the signs what to do if they occur. said: “Carbon monoxide safety is
of CO, the symptoms of CO poisoning, Through the partnership, training something everyone should know
and what steps to take if they think the and guidance will be provided for adult something about. The expertise that
poisonous gas is present in their homes. volunteers about CO safety, so they can the UK gas companies have fed in
Carbon monoxide is known as the be better equipped to teach the young to the programme activities that we
‘silent killer’ because you can’t see, people in their groups, and to make have developed in partnership with
smell, taste or hear it and can kill sure everyone stays safe in meeting them means we’ve been able to create
very quickly without warning. The places and on camps. something that’s fun to use, engaging
symptoms of CO poisoning are very Clive Book, Head of Emergency and potentially lifesaving. Through this
similar to flu and can often be mistaken Services at Wales & West Utilities, said: partnership, we can equip over 350,000
for the common cold. The partnership “We are delighted to partner with The young people with important skills that
aims to give as many people as possible Scout Association to teach more young may one day save a life.”

GAS NETWORKS PARTNERING WITH CITIZENS ADVICE

TO SUPPORT OVER 17,500 VULNERABLE PEOPLE

THE UK’S GAS DISTRIBUTION We’re also trialling CO and energy the Arun and Chichester branch of
networks are supporting over 17,500 advice packs for 2,500 people most in Citizens Advice. Following discussions
vulnerable people using Citizens need that will provide follow up advice with the other gas distribution networks,
Advice’s Energy Advice Programme as and information, a thermometer card the partnership is being led by SGN and
part of a new collaborative partnership. and a CO alarm. supported by Cadent, Northern Gas
Launched in February and running Through our partnership, Citizens Networks and Wales & West Utilities.
for 15 months, the partnership will see Advice is also able to extend its Energy It’s being funded using the collaborative
Citizens Advice raise awareness of carbon Advice Programme to an additional Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide
monoxide (CO) and reduce CO risk for over 5,000 vulnerable people, providing Allowance provided to the networks by
17,500 vulnerable people by incorporating in-depth energy advice and support Ofgem for the GD2 price control period.
CO awareness and safety discussions sessions for people who need it most. Rob Gray, Director of Stakeholder
into their well-established and The opportunity for the partnership Relations and Communications at SGN,
successful Energy Advice Programme. originally arose from SGN’s work with said: “This support is more vital than

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