TotalEnergies Gas & Power

Way back at the start of Lockdown, Total Gas & Power recognised the impact the pandemic was having on the communities around us and wanted to do something about it. Our CSR Committee set to work identifying charities local to our three offices (Redhill, Leeds and Newcastle) who were in need of support, and worked with them to understand their needs and the difference a donation could make to them. Take a look at our video below, then read on for more on the impact our donations have made to just some of these charities.

Samaritans

Every 7 seconds, a Samaritan answers a call for help. They are there day and night, for anyone who is struggling to cope. Money donated from TGP has gone directly to projects in East Surrey, London, Leeds and Newcastle. Here’s some of the amazing work Samaritans are doing, that we are helping with:

• Providing a bespoke support line for NHS staff and care home workers at a time when they are facing increased pressure on their own mental health. They support us, so we support them

• Creating a coronavirus-specific hub on our website with guidance on looking after ourselves and supporting others. This has been viewed over 140,000 times. 

• Launching an online self-help app to help us reach groups who may find it difficult to discuss their feelings with someone else when they are struggling. 

Re-engage

Supporting older people experiencing loneliness through social meetings pre-Covid, and call companions since. Money donated from TGP is supporting 149 isolated and vulnerable older people in East Surrey, Newcastle and Leeds through their telephone befriending service, Call Companions. Their valuable calls are a lifeline for many, checking that they are eating well, that they have enough provisions including medication, and that they are maintaining their mental and physical health. Some feedback that has already been collected shows the value of the service during lockdown:

“You’re the first person I've spoken to in 3 weeks”  

“You have made my day!”

“Thank you so much for calling, this is just what I have needed”

Renewed Hope Trust

Providing practical and emotional support to homeless and vulnerable people in and around Redhill, our donation is directly helping guests who used to use the Drop-In and now visit for a ‘packed lunch’ and a food parcel from the foodbank.

Care packages to South Africa

We arranged for care packages to be delivered to our team in South Africa to support them through lockdown.

St Oswald's Hospice, Newcastle

Providing outstanding, specialist and expert care to adults and children with life-limiting conditions in Newcastle. Our donation has helped them to adapt their care to the needs of our patients during the pandemic, including:

•          At the height of the pandemic, the specialist PPE our staff needed to keep themselves and patients safe, was costing up to £8,000 every day. Your donation has helped ensure stock levels of this vital equipment was maintained throughout.
  
• We had to restrict visiting to our Adult Inpatient Unit to prevent spread of infection. This meant that our patients could not see their loved ones face to face, which was devastating for them. Thanks to your support, we were able to purchase laptops and tablets to help families see the faces and hear the voices of their loved ones.
  
• Beth Gregan, our Children’s Bereavement Lead, has been keeping in contact with the young people she usually supports face to face via video calls. Because of your donation, Beth has been able to send out personalised packs containing books and crafts to support the young people when she can’t be there for them in person.

 Your kind wishes and friendly words mean the world to us, and to know you are thinking of us has just been the most wonderful thing.

ESDAS

Offering domestic abuse and violence help and outreach in East Surrey, our donation has made a huge difference over lockdown. Michelle Blunsom, CEO of ESDAS contacted us to say “I just wanted to let you know that thanks to your donation on Thursday we were able to buy new clothes for a woman who had fled her home. She left with only the clothes she was wearing and hadn't changed in days. Thanks to Total we were able to go to the shop and get her some new things. When we dropped them off she cried and said she wanted to hug us for showing such kindness. So thank you from her and us.”

St Luke’s Hospice, London

Providing specialist end of life care, St Luke’s Hospice were thrilled by our donation which has helped them continue to provide support to those most in need through the pandemic. This has included:

• Dedicated telephone and video counselling sessions with volunteer bereavement counsellors who undergo additional training and support
• Bereavement support resources specifically linked to issues linked to the COVID-19 crisis
• Support to local schools/teachers to make them aware of bereavement issues affecting vulnerable children

Leeds Women’s Aid

There to protect women and families from the damage that domestic violence & abuse can inflict on their lives. Nik Peasgood, CEO, wrote to us saying this: “I would like to thank Total Gas & Power for their amazing donation. This funding will help us to continue providing our vital online live chat service for victims and survivors of domestic abuse and violence.”

Here’s a full list of everyone we helped – well done Team TGP.

(Could we just do a roll of the names of these charities at the end – we don’t need any descriptions)