Case studyPrioritise Me

Speakup Self Advocacy, based in South Yorkshire, is run by and for people with learning disabilities and autism. Founded in 1988, they provide people with learning disabilities and autism a voice, employment opportunities and ensures they are valued in society.

Speakup saw an opportunity to bring further awareness of how the energy market works to disabled and autistic consumers who did not fully comprehend it, to prevent them from falling into fuel poverty. They secured £78,504 in Round 2 of the Energy Redress funding for their ambitious project.

Project deliverables

The Prioritise Me project developed a training package for people with learning disabilities or autism. The package supports people who wish to learn more about the energy market and how best to understand it.

Speak Up’s graphic designer created the ‘Prioritise Me’ house training pack to help vulnerable energy consumers begin their journey in avoiding and escaping energy poverty.

By working alongside graphic designers and university partners, they developed ideas for accessible smart meters, easy to read bills, educational short films and awareness of the Priority Services Register, designed to assist consumers with learning disabilities to get additional free services and support from their energy supplier.

Project impact

Prioritise Me launched in 2019. The project has been successful in creating fuel poverty awareness and providing support via drop-in sessions, home visits, forums, training sessions and raising awareness for the Priority Service Registers.

We are continuing to signpost people to the Priority Services Register and we have been in touch with a total of 260 organisations, groups or residential homes. All our partners are now engaged with the project and training is going well. We have also delivered some ‘keepingwarm in the winter’ sessions at Speakup.

Annie Ferguson, Speakup Self Advocacy