Community Energy Plus Positive Action for Wellbeing & Support
Funded Project: Description
This project will provide vital, holistic support to vulnerable energy consumers across Cornwall who are experiencing complex challenges, with a mix of fuel poverty, debt, and mental health issues. Working through a referral network of trusted frontline professionals, the team of experienced advisers will deliver tailored energy and financial advice via telephone calls, home visits and face to face appointments.
This proposal builds on the work achieved and learning gained through Energy Advice for Positive Mental Health (2021-23) and Positive Action for Health & Wellbeing (September 2023-August 2025). These projects have shown the long-term benefits to clients of addressing the underlying barriers that prevent them resolving energy issues.
Using a person-centred approach, advisers will identify the needs and concerns that contribute to stress and anxiety about household energy costs. With increasing demands on support services, direct access to help can be difficult for people who are not coping with costs of energy and household management and this project will enable direct referrals for individuals into specialist partners – Cornwall Mind for mental health support and Citizens Advice Cornwall for income maximisation, benefit checks, debt and legal advice. Where significant mental health issues are identified, both partners can make direct referrals into mental health support services.
By offering wraparound support, the project will help clients achieve lasting improvements in energy management, financial resilience, and wellbeing.