A charity dedicated to supporting older people across Dumfries and Galloway recently welcomed two of Glasgow Warriors’ top players for a special volunteer shift to celebrate its new fleet of electric delivery vans.
A £100,000 funding boost from SP Energy Networks’ Transmission Net Zero Fund has allowed Food Train to replace its previous diesel delivery vans with two new electric models along with installing an onsite charging point at its Castle Douglas base.
The sustainable upgrades are estimated to reduce the charity’s fleet emissions in Dumfries and Galloway by 16% by providing the delivery team with access to clean, green transport while also allowing them to reinvest savings back into direct service provision benefitting local older people.
The charity offers a range of essential services to help those who are no longer able to manage independently, with volunteer drivers making more than 100 grocery deliveries every week to older members of the Stewartry community.
To mark the occasion, SP Energy Networks invited their Official Community Partner, Glasgow Warriors, for a day out in Castle Douglas, strengthening their commitment to engage and positively impact the communities they serve across central and southern Scotland.
Glasgow Warriors player and Stewartry local, Stafford McDowall and teammate, Gregor Hiddleston joined Food Train’s volunteer drivers for a morning shift and helped the team load up the van with locally sourced produce before heading out on the road to visit two of Food Train’s customers.
Stafford McDowall, Glasgow Warriors player, said: “I grew up near Castle Douglas and have always been impressed by the work that Food Train does to support older people in our community. The deliveries are obviously a huge help, but getting involved with the volunteers today showed us how much customers enjoy just chatting to the team and having a catch up when they pop in to drop off supplies.
“It’s really clear to see the benefit these new EVs will bring, allowing the team to get out on the road every day without having to worry about their environmental impact.”
Food Train operates thanks to teams of dedicated local volunteers who go the extra mile by also helping with household jobs and providing much needed friendly social contact and meals through its Meal Makers and befriending services. The charity’s delivery services in the Stewartry help to reduce the workload of over 50 carers supporting people in the local community.
The introduction of the electric vans marks a significant milestone for Food Train’s Stewartry branch and furthers the charity’s ambition to reduce its environmental impact while continuing to support older adults who face challenges due to age, health conditions, frailty, or disability.
Gaynor Grant, Deputy Chief Executive at Food Train, said: “We’ve only had access to our new electric fleet for a short time and the positive impact is already huge. Not only have we been able to reduce our emissions, it’s also given us access to reliable transport that we can count on – something that’s absolutely crucial in our day to day operations.
“SP Energy Networks has previously supported Food Train through its Green Economy Fund, helping our Stirling and Renfrewshire teams to purchase new electric delivery vans. It’s been great to see that legacy continue in our Dumfries and Galloway branch.
“Stafford and Gregor made brilliant additions to our delivery team and I’m sure getting to meet some of Scotland’s top rugby talent put a smile on the faces of our regular customers!”
The charity is one of the recipients of SP Energy Networks’ Net Zero Fund – a £5million fund designed to support vulnerable communities across Central and Southern Scotland and ensure no one is left behind on the country’s journey to net zero emissions.
A host of charities and organisations supporting communities across Scotland have been awarded funding from SP Energy Networks’ Net Zero Fund to introduce innovative net zero technology. The groups will receive grants to help them decarbonise and reach their net zero targets sooner, with projects ranging from installation of solar panels and heat pumps to the purchase of electric vehicles and retrofitting listed buildings to increase energy efficiency.
SP Energy Networks owns and operates the electricity transmission and distribution network in Central and Southern Scotland, delivering power to more than two million homes and businesses. The Net Zero Fund has been established through SP Transmission, a subsidiary of SP Energy Networks, responsible for transmitting high-voltage electricity from power stations and windfarms to the low-voltage network across Central and Southern Scotland.
More information about the Net Zero Fund is available at: www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/netzerofund