- Eat Up’s new electric vehicle (EV) reduced the risk of breakdowns, which meant it could offer uninterrupted support for its service users.
- Lower fuel and maintenance costs for the vehicle freed up valuable funds, allowing the charity to reinvest in its mission.
- The switch to a zero-emission vehicle aligns with Scotland’s pollution reduction targets, contributing to cleaner air in the communities Eat Up serves.
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Key points
Client profile
Eat Up is a Glasgow-based charity dedicated to alleviating poverty. It provides essential food delivery and transport services to vulnerable people across Renfrewshire, Glasgow, and North Lanarkshire councils.
Challenge
With a growing demand for its services, the organisation faced challenges in maintaining reliable transport. Its previous vehicle often broke down, disrupting the service and making it difficult for people to attend appointments or get essential supplies.
Eat Up was also looking for a more sustainable, environmentally friendly solution that supported local environmental initiatives like the low emission zone (LEZ) in Glasgow city centre.
Solution
To improve service delivery while supporting its sustainability goals, Eat Up successfully applied for the plugged-in communities grant fund. This covered the cost of buying a new 15-seater electric minibus.
Throughout the application process, Eat Up found the plugged-in communities grant team to be extremely supportive, providing clear instructions and assistance every step of the way. The straightforward application process made it easy for the charity to access the funding and quickly put it to use.
Results
Introducing an electric van has brought many benefits to Eat Up. The charity has significantly increased its service capacity. It has also saved on running and maintenance costs, which it has reallocated to help more people in need of support.
Service users have responded well to the electric van. They find it comfortable, and it helps them to access vital resources and stay connected to their local community.
Driving the new EV has also been a positive experience for the charity’s team. The van is smooth, easy to use, and has made daily operations more efficient.
Eat Up strongly encourages other eligible organisations to apply for the funding, describing it as a ‘gamechanger’ that has revolutionised its service delivery.
By adopting the EV, Eat Up has strengthened its ability to serve the community while contributing to a more sustainable future.
When approaching grant applications, there’s often anxiety about the process. But we found it straightforward, with excellent support from the plugged-in communities team. We would highly recommend it to any community organisation looking to improve their services.
Eat Up Chair
Looking for funding for your community transport organisation?
Find out more about the plugged-in communities fund.