Depher Community Plumbing & Heating CIC (since 20 February 2024) | |
Abbreviation | DEPHER CPH CIC |
---|---|
Predecessor | Northern Plumbing and Heating Ltd (4 March 2017–6 August 2019) |
Formation | March 2017 |
Founder | James Ward Anderson |
Type | Community interest company |
Registration no. | Company 11335052 |
Headquarters | 24 Keirby Walk |
Location |
|
Coordinates | 53°47′23″N 2°14′23″W / 53.7897°N 2.2396°W |
Products | Plumbing services |
Director | James Ward Anderson |
Revenue (2022/2023) | £1,257,361 |
Expenses (2022/2023) | £709,855 |
Staff (2022/2023) | 13 |
Website | www |
Formerly called |
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Source: Companies House[1] |
Depher Community Plumbing and Heating Support CIC, formerly known as Depher, (Disabled and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair) is a Community Interest Company based in Burnley, Lancashire, England, that gives free plumbing and heating services to vulnerable people.[2] It relies on crowdfunding, donations, and income from private jobs to fund its work.[3][4]
Depher was founded in March 2017 by James Ward Anderson.[5] Anderson was inspired to help people after he visited an elderly man whose boiler had been tampered with in an attempt to make him pay for a replacement.[6]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Depher gave vulnerable people free food, gas, and electricity.[7] This stopped in 2023 due to Depher being unable to support an increase in demand.[8]
In June 2023, Anderson received a British Citizen Award at the Palace of Westminster for services to volunteering and charitable giving.[9]
In November 2023 Depher began taking donations of furniture, clothing, and shoes.[10] In December of the same year, an investigation by The Independent revealed that Anderson shared a picture of a golliwog in 2016 and believes in the "All Lives Matter" sentiment. Anderson denied that either he or Depher were racist.[11]
Depher rebranded to “Community Plumbing and Heating Support” in January 2024. As explained in a post on X, the rebrand was as a result of “many thinking we only supported the disabled and elderly”.[1] As of 20th February 2024, the company changed its name again to DEPHER Community Plumbing and Heating Support CIC. [2]
In August 2023, Samantha Giles donated two photos from the set of Emmerdale to raise funds for Depher.[12]
In October 2023, Depher returned a donation from Tristan Tate following a social media backlash due to ongoing criminal investigations.[13]
Hugh Grant and Anna Eberstein have donated a total of £75k to Depher.[14]