Wiltshire Council secures funding to help residents stay safe from electrical hazards

Wiltshire Council's Trading Standards team has successfully secured more than £8,000 in funding to deliver a new community electrical safety project across the county.

The council has been awarded £8,276.40 from the Electrical Safety First, Electrical Safety Fund, which supports projects that reduce electrical risks in homes, raise awareness of electrical safety, and provide practical interventions to keep people safe.

The funding will enable the council to host four community electrical safety events across Wiltshire, giving residents the opportunity to have small household electrical items tested for safety by a qualified Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) tester.

The events are expected to take place in early 2027 in Trowbridge, Devizes, Chippenham and Salisbury, with specific dates and venues to be announced later. The sessions will be open to all residents, helping people identify potentially unsafe electrical items and learn more about home electrical safety.

Residents will be able to bring along a wide range of household electrical items for free safety testing, including phone chargers, extension leads, electric blankets, kettles, toasters, irons, power banks and portable heaters. They will also accept other small domestic appliances for testing.

As part of the campaign, owners of unsafe electrical products that are surrendered for recycling will be eligible to receive a voucher towards a quality replacement item, provided by Wiltshire-based branches of electrical retailer Kew Electrical

The council is particularly keen to encourage residents to bring along products purchased through online marketplaces and overseas sellers. In recent years, Trading Standards has raised national concerns about some electrical products sold through online platforms that may not meet UK safety requirements.

Electrical faults and unsafe electrical products remain a significant cause of accidental house fires and injuries. The project aims to help residents identify potentially unsafe items, reduce risks at home, and gain practical advice on electrical safety.

Alongside helping residents identify unsafe electrical products, the council is encouraging people to recycle unwanted electrical items responsibly. Small electrical items and household batteries can be recycled through the free kerbside battery and small electricals collection service. Residents can also recycle larger electrical items at household recycling centres across the county, helping to prevent valuable materials from going to waste and reducing the risk of unsafe products remaining in use.

Cllr Paul Sample JP, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: "I'm delighted that our Trading Standards team has been successful in securing this funding from Electrical Safety First.

"Many people use electrical items every day without realising they may have become damaged or unsafe over time. These events will give residents the opportunity to have everyday household items checked by qualified professionals, helping to prevent potential electrical risks in the home.

"Many of us have drawers full of old chargers, extension leads and other electrical items that we use every day without giving them a second thought. These events will provide a simple way for people to check whether those products are still safe and receive expert advice if they're not.

"This funding will allow us to take practical action to help residents identify and remove potential electrical hazards from their homes, while also raising awareness of the simple steps people can take to stay safe.

"We're keen to encourage as many residents as possible to take advantage of these events and get their household electrical items checked. I look forward to seeing the project develop and encouraging people to attend when further details are announced."

The project forms part of Wiltshire Council's ongoing work to protect consumers and support community wellbeing, while helping residents better understand electrical safety and reduce the risk of accidents in the home.

The initiative will be delivered in partnership with Electrical Safety First, the UK's leading charity dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and fires caused by electricity.

Further details about event dates, venues and how residents can take part will be announced in due course.