A TENBURY-based initiative will help vulnerable people with urgent household purchases.

NILS is a charity which was formed in 2013 to offer support to people living in and around Tenbury and it has now grown to offer assistance across the Malvern Hills District, Herefordshire and Shropshire.

It has evolved its offering to provide essential household items to people in a financial crisis or experiencing financial hardship. It has linked up with a local retailer to offer discounted goods such as washing machines and cookers and ensures they are delivered and any broken goods removed safely.

The fund is backed by local benefactors and chief executive Yvonne Davies and chairman David Stevens met with Harriett to discuss the potential to expand the scheme further and secure more donors.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed the scheme.

“I’ve worked closely with NILS since it was first founded and know what an important job it has done helping people. I have been pleased to support the charity in whatever way I can," Harriett said.

“Nils has moved from a ‘no interest loan’ offer to also making grants in the form of essential household items and it works closely with other partners such as Citizens Advice in signposting people to the right help and support.

“I had a useful chat with the new leadership team to hear of their plans and will follow their progress closely.”

Yvonne Davies added: “It was fantastic to meet with Harriett Baldwin MP to share how Nils can, even with its limited funds, make a real immediate difference to families living with limited incomes facing a financial crisis, because their cooker or washing machine has broken and they cannot borrow to replace it.

“We are fortunate to have the support of many local benefactors and it is with their help, and our partner organisations, that we are able to reach out to those in desperate financial need and help them to overcome the immediate financial crisis and start to think about the future.“ For more information see www.nils.org.uk, email enquiries@nils.org.uk or phone the Nils helpline on 07904 488492.