Homepage | A to Z | Search Tips

This page was last updated on: Thursday, 01-Dec-2011 10:10:57 GMT

ExxonMobil continues to reach out to help disability service

Listen Now

A charity which offers help and advice to disabled people in the New Forest has given a huge vote of thanks to Esso and ExxonMobil Chemical at the Fawley refinery for years of continued financial assistance.

 

The New Forest Disability Information Service (NFDIS), based in New Milton, has received £5,750 in grants over the past five years from ExxonMobil at Fawley, primarily to help fund their telephone helpline and also an outreach service in Hythe.

 

Thanks to ExxonMobil it means that less able residents on the Waterside can call the dedicated telephone line which receives thousands of calls each year. Not only this, the Hythe centre, based at The Grove, is open every Wednesday from 12-4pm.

“We don’t get any statutory funding,” explained NFDIS chief executive Jacki Keable, “so rely heavily on grants and donations. Grants are drying up in the current economic climate so the generosity of a company like ExxonMobil cannot be overstated. What they do for us, and therefore less able people in the area who rely on us, is wonderful.”

The charity provides free, impartial and confidential guidance to disabled people, their families and carers.

 

Last year alone their army of 21 volunteers handled more than 4,500 enquiries and secured over half a million pounds of new benefits for clients.

 

“For a lot of people who are less able, maybe isolated and getting older, it can be a minefield out there,” continued Jacki. “We are there to offer impartial advice, help with benefits but also just be a reassuring voice.”

Alison Jones, Fawley’s Community Affairs Adviser said: “ExxonMobil has continued to support the NFDIS for some years now. It is comforting to know that the less able in our community have this service on their door step. We are proud to be associated with the NFDIS.”

 

Image:

Alison Jones (ExxonMobil) joins Jaki Keable and Dennis Forfitt, Senior Adviser at the NFCIS Outreach Service in Hythe.

 

Photography: 

Ian Jackson

Top of page

 

USER TOOLS: