Electric vehicles for social care staff
Denbighshire County Council has been working to support the social care sector and reduce its carbon footprint by facilitating the use of electric vehicles, as well as access to driving lessons for staff who will be providing care in people’s homes.
With funding secured from Welsh Government, the Council now has ten electric vehicles available for staff providing care and have also made grant awards to providers for driving lessons.
Following an application process, two independent domiciliary care providers, Co-options and Alexandra House, have been awarded five-year zero-cost leases for two e-vehicles. The Council has also provided Co-options with an e-bike for non-driving care staff to use.
The remaining vehicles are being used by Denbighshire County Council domiciliary care staff.
The electric vehicles, as well as the number of driving lessons that have been awarded to care staff, are supporting domiciliary care workers to provide much needed care to citizens across Denbighshire.
Council vehicles are replaced with electric vehicles as existing fleet vehicles come to the end of their life. They are then replaced with reduced carbon Vehicles.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “These vehicles not only help our environment, but also the staff who are using them to provide important services and care to the people of Denbighshire.
It is great that independent domiciliary care providers have also been granted access to the vehicles, as use of e-vehicles helps to reduce the amount of Carbon that is produced.”
Councillor Elen Heaton Lead Member for Health and Social Care said: “We’re very grateful for this funding provided by the Welsh Government as reliable transportation for our social care teams is vitally important. They play a huge role in supporting and caring for the people within our county.
Not only does this initiative support our mission to provide high quality care and support to our community, it also contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for our country which is vital.”