Charitable work
As a co-operative, playing an active role in our local community is vital to us.
We contribute time and resources to a variety of local charities, and offer honorary membership to local NHS and Blood Bike staff.
Supporting Local Foodbanks
The First Base Agency is an independent charity providing support to families affected by drugs and alcohol; women at risk of violence; ex service personnel; and foreign nationals facing poverty and deprivation.
They distribute over 4000 food parcels annually, and provide an education service for local schools.
We partnered with First Base in March 2021, and all our membership scheme donations are now going directly to them.
Dumfriesshire Foodbank provides nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Between January 2017 and February 2021, our members donated over £20,000 to the Dumfriesshire Foodbank by joining our membership scheme.
Borders Forest Trust
In the winter of 2019/2020 we started our Plant A Tree scheme. For every tonne of briquettes we sell, we plant one native tree in the UK. Whether you buy one pack or one pallet, every purchase counts towards our total. We do this in partnership with Borders Forest Trust, who plant areas of native woodland in the Scottish Borders.
In January 2020, we kicked the scheme off by purchasing 2,107 trees, which have been planted at Talla & Gameshope in Southern Scotland for the sole purpose of habitat creation. These trees will never be felled but will be left to complete their natural life cycle.
Winter Warmth for Older People Project
The Winter Warmth for Older People Project is run by The Hub, a local community action centre in Dumfries; the Community Payback Unit (Dumfries & Galloway Council); and local landowners.
The project delivers free firewood to older people on low incomes in Dumfries & Galloway each winter.
Most years we donate up to four tonnes of wood fuel to the project. However, in 2020 we were asked to help in a more extensive capacity, after COVID-19 severely disrupted the scheme.
Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes
Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes is a charitable organisation set up by local volunteers to deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies, in and out of hours, between hospitals and healthcare sites in South West Scotland and sometimes beyond.
We offer Blood Bike volunteers free honorary membership of the Wood fuel Co-operative, as a recognition of the important work they do for our local community. To claim your free membership, please bring your Blood Bike ID to our office.
NHS Dumfries & Galloway
All Dumfries and Galloway NHS staff are eligible for free honorary membership of the Wood Fuel Co-operative. This is as a thank you to the staff who looked after Rowland when he was very ill in 2015.
If you are a member of D&G NHS staff, claim your free membership by bringing your NHS ID to our office. This offer also applies to NHS staff who live in Dumfries & Galloway but work for neighbouring NHS Trusts.
