Funded Energy Redress Projects

Scarf will provide a Home Energy Advice Team service in Moray with the aim of supporting one of the regions with the highest level of fuel poverty. The programme will offer Moray households a home energy audit. This audit will advise on property fabric upgrades, soft measures and funding available to improve the properties’ energy efficiency. Once the energy audit is complete and recommendations are made, the in-home advisers will offer free and impartial energy efficiency advice to the household to educate the household on energy usage. The programme will be available to all tenures and where appropriate be delivered both in-home and remotely.

Draught Includers is a project that aims to engage vulnerable people in community activities and help them to get the help they need to keep their properties warm and their bills under control. The initiative will work closely with North Tyneside Voda (CVS) and a network of 30 community based or faith-based organisations who are delivering a warm hubs programme, to provide additional support. A sustainability adviser will visit each of the warm hubs and provide advice and support to people and volunteers and staff will be upskilled to provide support themselves. Support will be provided over the telephone and in person. Free home starter kits and installation will also be offered.

Argyll Energy Advice Service is led by Argyll, Lomond and the Islands Energy Agency (ALIenergy), in collaboration with Home Energy Scotland and a range of local referral organisations working with vulnerable clients, including foodbanks, health and social care providers, and housing associations. Together they will deliver a home energy advice service for the diverse and mainly rural communities of Argyll and Bute, with a particular focus on off-gas households, many of which are very seriously affected by fuel poverty. The service will offer: immediate crisis intervention; a range of energy advice topics to raise awareness and reduce the risk of fuel poverty going forwards; and referrals into a variety of available schemes including Scottish Government funded insulation and heating replacements.

Citizens Advice SORT Group have been successful in getting an in-principle agreement with Google Nest hardware team for a research programme in Greater Manchester. This proposal includes discounting Nest Thermostat E by £100 to £99.99 and product training for Citizens Advice staff and volunteers. Nest estimates the average user will save between 8.4% to 16.5% on their energy bills - given recent increase in the price cap this could be essential savings for consumers in this area. This one year project will provide intensive energy advice via home visits, install smart thermostats, check in on quarterly basis to monitor the cost savings and energy consumption habits focused on 400 people living in fuel poverty.

Building on existing work as a community partnership to help vulnerable people in North Birmingham who are impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, the project will deliver a community-based fuel poverty advice and advocacy service. This will expand the availability of dedicated fuel poverty support, offered through energy cafes, a phone line, drop-in, community events, and in-depth case work.  It will build upon the existing help with the impact of increasing fuel bills to make a positive difference to people experiencing increased stress as a result of fuel price increases and to alleviate the impact on anxiety, depression and mental health caused by fuel poverty.

Arun and Chichester Citizens Advice (ACCA) and Citizens Advice 1066 (CA1066) will work in partnership to expand the existing Tackling Fuel Poverty Together Programme and provide high-level energy advice to the most vulnerable groups at risk of disconnection due to the cost-of-living crisis through single point of contact (SPOC) telephone/video advice services. The programme will: expand the West and East Sussex SPOC services to deal with increased demand; deliver awareness training to external front line staff and training updates to Citizens Advice volunteers; and distribute fuel vouchers to vulnerable fuel poor households. The service will be promoted in areas of high-level deprivation.

Community Action Northumberland (CAN) is committed to reducing carbon emissions, increasing household energy efficiency and reducing fuel poverty in the rural communities of Northumberland. The project will deliver trusted independent carbon reduction advice and support to rural households off the gas grid who face the most challenging response to the removal of fossil fuels. A dedicated officer will provide independent advice to off-gas grid households to maximise their energy efficiency and identify the optimal options for transition to non-fossil fuels. Support will be given to individual households to implement carbon reduction installations, utilising external grant support available. A series of energy roadshows in rural communities across the area will be conducted.

Rising energy costs and spiralling cost of living mean that now more than ever people with cancer are facing severe financial hardship. Macmillan’s Energy Advice Team exists to support people with cancer by providing energy advice, financial support and signposting to other fuel poverty services. Macmillan Cancer Support’s ambition is to create more sustainable solutions for people with cancer, partnering with energy companies to better support vulnerable customers and alleviate fuel poverty. To ensure they can meet the growing demand at an unprecedented level, salary costs of energy and welfare advisers will be supported by funding.