Funded Energy Redress Projects

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.

The project will target unpaid carers, living in the borough of Sefton. Project delivery will be led by Sefton Carers Centre, supported by volunteers and partnering with Sefton's Affordable Warmth Team. The project aims to reduce the number of carers experiencing fuel poverty through the delivery of energy efficiency advice to individual carers and groups of carers. Support will be provided to maximise finances via welfare benefit advice to prevent/reduce fuel poverty.  Information will also be provided to help carers access any capital grants that are available for energy efficiency measures such as boilers and insulation for their home, in addition to small energy efficient items being provided via the project.

The ‘People Powered’ project aims to provide residents of Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney, most vulnerable to fuel poverty, with: the immediate support they need to overcome acute difficulties with their energy bills and longer-term resilience to withstand on-going pressures to pay their energy bills. These boroughs all have pockets of significant deprivation. The project is designed to provide the community with greater access to the right type of support, in a sustainable and cost-efficient way. The community-based model will support people with acute issues, while giving them and their communities the tools to sustain longer-term resilience to ongoing pressures.