Pluss nominated for £18,000 'Golden Key' project funding

Social enterprise Pluss has won one of seven coveted golden keys in a Willy Wonka-style national competition, with the chance to see its nominated community project scoop £18,000, thanks to Supra UK.

The Exeter-based organisation supports thousands of people with disabilities and other disadvantages in the South West, West of England and West Yorkshire. They support people both by helping them into work and by supplying equipment to aid independent living.

Pluss aims to use the prize money to send out over 5,000 ‘Everlasting Cold-Stoppers’, which are re-usable hand warmers, to those who need them in the South West. The scheme links up to Age UK’s current ‘Winter Wrapped Up’ campaign.

Guy Eatherington, Business Development Manager for Pluss, said: “This is a fabulous opportunity for us to help thousands of people in the South West to keep warm and well in the winter weather, which for too long has resulted in unnecessary discomfort, distress and even deaths.

“Your vote for this project will warm the hands of thousands of people in the community, as well as reach the hearts and minds of thousands more through free help and advice.”

Supra UK, which is based in Droitwich, Worcestershire, is celebrating its 18th birthday by donating the money to a community project which has been nominated by one of its two million UK customers.

Entrepreneur David Ogden, the nation’s authority on key safes, established Supra UK in 1995 when he introduced the UK to the concept of key safes and securely storing property keys externally.

To celebrate 18 years of sustained growth and employment, Supra UK is offering eight of its customers the chance to nominate a local community project, which would benefit from the cash investment.

Seven lucky customers, selected at random, have each been sent a special birthday golden key with a future order.

They will then be asked to nominate a local community scheme or project.

Visitors to Supra UK’s website www.keysafebirthday.co.uk will be invited to vote for their favourite project between 14 and 31 October.

The winner will be announced at a VIP event on 14 November, attended by all eight golden key holders and their nominated community projects.