A charity that helps parent carers navigate the world of disabilities, palliative care and bereavement has extended its partnership with gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities, to reach families in the south west of England for the first time.
Advocates and Angels, which has supported thousands of families across Wales, will now expand its work to offer guidance, practical help and safety awareness to parent carers across the south west region.
Advocates and Angels was established by Bethan Germon in memory of her daughter Lydia, who was born in 2015 with significant disabilities and tragically died in July 2020. The charity gives emergency care packages, providing parents with hygiene essentials to give them dignity when caring for their poorly child. They work in hospitals across Wales, and the partnership extension will allow the delivery of services in up to 32 additional wards and hospices across the south west of England.
The expansion follows a successful two-year partnership, which saw Wales & West Utilities provide £30,000 of funding through its Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA). The funding has already enabled more than 6,700 parents and carers in Wales to access vital support, including awareness sessions on the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, receiving Warm Packs, free CO alarms, and advice on joining the Priority Services Register (PSR).
Building on this success, the partnership’s extension will allow the two organisations to work together to train staff and volunteers in the south west to identify and support families who may be struggling, while also helping them stay safe and warm in their homes.
Bethan Germon, founder and trustee of Advocates and Angels, said:
“We’re thrilled to extend our work with Wales & West Utilities and bring our support and important work to families across the south west of England.
“We know first-hand how overwhelming caring for a child with complex needs can be, and we want every parent to feel supported, both emotionally and practically. This partnership allows us to do that, giving families vital information to stay safe whilst accessing the help they need.”
Sophie Shorney, Vulnerability & Carbon Monoxide Allowance Manager at Wales & West Utilities, added:
“We’re delighted to see this partnership continue and grow. The work that Advocates and Angels does is truly life-changing, and by expanding into the south west of England we’ll be able to reach even more families who may need help.
“Through our VCMA programme, we’re committed to ensuring that everyone — particularly those in vulnerable circumstances — has access to the right advice, support and safety information.”
Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes.