South West Water’s community liaison experts will be heading to Northern Devon Foodbank branches throughout 2026 to support local customers looking for billing advice.
Northern Devon Foodbank, founded in 2012, is funded by donors and has seven branches providing emergency food support to tackle poverty across North Devon and Torridge.
To provide the most appropriate help for each client’s situation, the Foodbank works with local agencies who can support with long-term help to address the reasons behind people struggling financially.
The multi-agency drop-in hubs are attended by charities and businesses like South West Water, Citizens Advice, Navigate, Shelter and the Devon Mental Health Alliance.
Financial support on offer from South West Water includes:
- Support tariffs to help reduce customer bills including caps on charges for large families or customers who need extra water for medical treatments
- Flexible payment plans to help support customers when they need it most
- Financial support for unexpected hardships or life-changing events, like bereavement or job loss
- Tailored assistance for customers struggling with debt
James Craigie, Director at Northern Devon Foodbank, said: “We see over 100 families in crisis each week, and while we provide emergency food support, it is the hard work of our partner agencies, like South West Water, that tackle the underlying issues causing the crisis. We are so grateful to those agencies, our volunteers and the public.”
Lorraine Whiting, Billing Field Specialist Co-ordinator at South West Water, said: “We’re proud to work with the Northern Devon Foodbanks as they do such wonderful work in the community to support clients who are struggling financially.
“Not only do food bank staff ensure local people have access to regular, nourishing meals but they provide a holistic approach to helping people get their lives back on track.
“This year our customer engagement team will be visiting community hubs and food banks across the region, talking to customers face-to-face and putting them at the forefront of everything we do.”
As well as attending food banks, South West Water’s dedicated team of Community Engagement Officers regularly meet customers at community hubs, job centres, work clubs, NHS groups and wards, community cafes – and even carry out home visits where needed.
To find out more about the support South West Water can offer, visit Financial support | South West Water
To find your nearest hub, Locations | Northern Devon Foodbank