Selfless plumber 'won't stop' helping elderly and disabled 'stay warm' at home for free

Plumber James Anderson has been nominated for a Pride of Britain award for his work delivering free plumbing and heating services to elderly and disabled people who are struggling to eat each day and heat their homes.

The founder of the not-for-profit organisation Depher (Disability and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair) has raised just under £2m in fundraising to help people who need plumbing and heating services but can’t afford to pay for it.

The Burnley plumber has been praised by some for giving people free boilers but he has also been threatened in the street because of his charitable efforts. Despite this, he says he will not stop helping others. Mr Anderson has been selected as a finalist for the Pride of Britain Regional Fundraiser of the Year award.

Rising costs see public ask Depher for help with food, debts and more

Mr Anderson first set up his organisation Depher in 2017 as a free plumbing and heating service, after he discovered an elderly man had almost been scammed out of thousands of pounds by a heating engineer.

James Anderson said: “With the cost of energy and essential bills increasing every day, we do all we can to support many who come to us for help."

Demand for his free service has grown since it was founded and has resulted in him helping more than two million people. Mr Anderson says he aims to have Depher hubs across the country to help more people in need.

Mr Anderson's work does not stop at helping people with heating and plumbing issues. The public are also calling on him to help them with food poverty, rising energy costs, debts and loan sharks.

'I was scared' but 'it's not going to stop me'

Last April, Mr Anderson helped get a homeless man who was being attacked to get off the streets of Burnley and into accommodation, after liaising with the council. He plans to offer the man voluntary work within the Depher organisation. Mr Anderson posted a video on the Depher website which said: “He was homeless, he was fearing for his life, he is now warm and safe.”

Mr Anderson has also gone to supermarkets to buy food for families in need. In another video, Mr Anderson says he has, at times, felt threatened by individuals in the street who have told him he should let people starve.

He said of one incident in the street: "I was scared because I was waiting for a smack. It's not going to stop me."

Hugh Grant donates another £10,000 to Depher

However last year, a lack of funding caused by the Covid pandemic led to him fearing he would have to shut Depher down. After sharing news online about the free work he has carried out, the kindness of strangers in the form of donations, managed to keep Depher going.

He has received over £55,000 from actor Hugh Grant alone. Earlier this month, Hugh Grant and his wife Anna Eberstein donated £10,000 to Mr Anderson’s Depher business.

In a tweet, Mr Anderson (@depheruk) posted: 'A massive thank you to everyone who has Donated to @Depheruk, your support is amazing. A big heart & hug to @HackedOffHugh & Anna Grant for another wonderful £10,000 donation today. We can help so many because of all the hearts that support us.'

Mr Anderson has emphasizes the importance of people being able to stay warm and living independently in their homes.

James Anderson said: "It's about putting your arm around someone and telling them you care.

"By getting the service noticed by everybody, we could reduce the pain and the sorrow on the NHS, on care homes. To expand Depher nationally would save hundreds of thousands of lives every year.

“Our support for low-income families will continue; we will be supplying food, gas and electricity to families that need our help this winter."

Heat banks 'will cause a lot of damage'

Mr Anderson has criticised a new initiative that many councils and organizations are considering called 'Heat Banks'.

He said: "However nice this may seem to some, in our opinion, this will cause a lot more damage than it will create a solution. It will put many vulnerable people into a situation where they could be open to catching the flu, Covid or other illnesses, also being taken from their homes and independence.

"Many will travel from a cold home to a warm place, but they will be travelling back to a cold place and spending maybe 12 hours or more in their cold homes before returning to a warm place.

"We are now raising funds to support the elderly, vulnerable and disabled to keep them in their homes by heating their homes and not removing them from a problem that will be there when they return. Please consider donating; we will ensure that the people who need their independence and surroundings keep them.”

John Brumbley who donated £50 this week, posted on the fundraising page: 'What a wonderful cause to the vulnerable and needy, you have my full support always. I will send donations whenever l can for such a worthy caring team. Thank you so much for the great work you do, l am in total awe of what you are doing.'

The Pride of Britain awards will be broadcast on ITV this November to celebrate the achievements of people who try to help others.

To donate to Depher visit click here