A scheme developed by energy supplier npower to provide fuel vouchers to those in need is hoping to open in Cornwall.

The Feeding Britain group has launched a crowdfunding campaign in partnership with the npower Fuel Bank Charity to establish a ‘Fuel Bank’ at the Camborne, Pool and Redruth (CPR) Foodbank this coming winter; npower will match fund public donations to help reach the £30,000 target.

An npower spokesperson said: ‘Cornwall is one of the poorest counties within England and the Transformation CPR Foodbank currently provides up to 10,000 meals every month to people who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families.

‘Opening a Fuel Bank here will help provide extra support for these foodbank users who have prepayment meters and are struggling to pay for gas and electricity, regardless of their energy supplier.

‘A Fuel Bank voucher is worth £49 in winter and provides around two weeks’ worth of gas or electricity, helping people to have hot meals, hot showers and heat their homes. According to npower’s research with Fuel Bank users, over half of people are having to choose between heating or eating at least once a week and 15 per cent are making this choice on a daily basis.

‘Members of the public and local businesses are being asked to donate via http://crowdfunder.co.uk/cornwall-fuel-bank

Don Gardner, manager of the Transformation CPR Foodbank, said: ‘Opening a Fuel Bank here this winter would make a massive difference to many of our clients. Although people often think of Cornwall as idyllic, seasonal work, low wages and insecure contracts means there’s real hardship here too. People come to us for a range of reasons such as changes or delays with benefits, low income or debt. We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people coming through our doors since the rollout of Universal Credit, which has hit Cornish families hard.’