Our Impact
Repaying My Energy Debt One Step a Time….
When I heard about the energy support workshop I was eager to attend.
I learnt things that looking back seemed like common sense but at the time was so informative. Dave who facilitated the workshop guided us through some really useful information and it was delivered at a slower pace which I found helpful.
Not only did I come away with useful tips in managing the household energy more efficiently and understanding watts and usage better, I also came away with a free air fryer, helping me to keep costs down by not using my electric oven as much!
After the work shop I was offered one to one support to go through my energy arrears. We looked at ways to manage my situation better. With this we compiled my expenditure sheet looking at where I could or couldn’t afford to let go of certain commitments.
The support I received was so helpful (amazing in fact) but most importantly I felt really supported, my current situation was taken into account and having an advocate when dealing with some difficult telephone conversations with EDF & Citizen Advice was so helpful.
I was also advised of community food hubs and local food provision that I could access and I now do so on a regular basis. This has really helped me with putting food on the table.
I am now in a payment plan and for the last couple of months I have been regularly paying my energy usage and making payments towards my energy debt. I was also given financial support to go towards my energy debt and I now feel I’m getting my debt under control.
Having come from a background of domestic abuse I was incredibly dubious of the project. However through building trust with the staff I felt more at ease and this helped me to engage in the project.
I was also kindly referred to an adult cycling course to build my confidence on the road which I’m currently participating in. This has been helping with my mental heath as each week I’ve come away quite elated learning things about being a cyclist, giving me confidence on the road. As a driver it also gave me understanding from a cyclists perspective about what it’s like to ride along side other vehicles. I even got given a bike free of charge!
So from what started as a workshop about energy has turned out to be so much more. I feel there’s a light at the end of the tunnel re: my energy debt and I feel good about contributing positively to my mental health.
Thank you, you gave me opportunities in different areas. I’m so grateful.
Meet Jo and Andi
Jo and her partner Andrew, who both struggle with poor mental health, live with their two children. They live on benefits and things have been stressful after receiving letters and phone calls from their energy supplier. They are billed for their energy, but the energy supplier has been trying to encourage them onto a pre-payment meter because of the arrears.
Jo was angry as this would be more expensive for her and would cause her difficulty with having to keep topping up her meter. We contacted Jo’s energy supplier to advocate on her behalf.
We were able to identify the problem. Jo had informed her energy supplier that her partner Andrew was moving-in, and as a result, the energy supplier cancelled Jo’s account resulting in her needing to settle the account in full. Final warning letters were also being sent. After talking to the energy supplier and explaining the situation we were able to support Jo in agreeing an affordable payment plan and arrange for the energy supplier to stop sending letters to chase the debt.
This provided Jo and Andrew peace of mind and they were able to focus on some of the other issues they were experiencing. We also discussed Jo’s water usage. The discussion uncovered an unresolved water debt. As a result, we were also able to support Jo and Andrew with their water arrears and advocated on their behalf. As a result, they engaged in a new payment plan and her debt of £264 was reduced by 50%. We also registered the household for the Priority Service Register.
Finally, we referred Jo and Andrew to a local Budgeting and Life skills course to help them manage their finances more effectively in future.
Meet Janet
Janet, who struggles with poor mental health, lives with her two children and receives Universal Credit. Things were stressful and she was finding bills difficult to manage. Janet has a pre-payment meter and at the time of referral was in emergency credit and at risk of running out of gas and electricity.
We contacted Janet to discuss her situation and explore ways to reduce her energy use. As well as offering advice on bills Janet was provided fuel vouchers so she could stay on supply while she waited for her next payment of Universal Credit.
The discussion uncovered an unresolved water debt. We contacted Janet’s water company, and as a result, Janet saved £35 per month on her water bills, and a payment plan was arranged that was more suitable to Janet’s situation. We also registered Janet for the Priority Service Register and information and additional resources were also sent to Janet to help re-enforce energy savings.
Meet Zahra
Zahra was referred to us with £10,000 of energy arrears. We were able to re-assure Zahra that support would be available to help her through this stressful time. Zahra’s English was limited so communicating with her energy supplier has been difficult. Zahra had not supplied meter readings for some time, so the energy debt was not accurate. We supported Zahra in getting accurate meter readings to her energy supplier which reduced the debt. We are now working with Zahra to help her reduce her arrears further.
This is currently an ongoing case.
Meet Mary
Mary was referred to us with high arrears of over £7000 having fled a violent relationship and having suffered financial abuse. With support form our female worker we provided a series of face-to-face appointments and a series of support telephone calls to help Mary address the issues around her energy account and to offer general support through this difficult time. As a result of our involvement we supported Mary in making a hardship fund claim to address the energy arrears as well as providing energy advice and resources for energy savings moving forward. We added Mary to the Priority Service Register, ensured she was on the cheapest energy tariff (and available social tariffs) and helped set up a payment plan to prevent further energy arrears. In addition, clothing support has been arranged for her child, as well as providing an air fryer and microwave to further support energy savings. We have also been providing ongoing support through our Women and Girls Project to help Mary to keep things on track. Mary has also been referred to further budgeting support and will be attending one of our energy support workshops later this year.
Meet Daniel
Daniel came to us with significant mental health and wider support needs. He had ongoing problems both with the local council and his energy supplier. Daniel does not use an online account or apps to manage his energy usage and does not have a smart meter. He had been struggling to communicate effectively with the energy supplier to resolve billing and meter issues. Daniel was on an Electricity only tariff and had an old style meter which needed to be replaced. With the added cost of living pressures and mental health struggles this has led to a frustrating situation for Daniel that felt difficult to overcome. With the support of the project we helped bring Daniel’s energy account up to date, offered regular support and re-assurance with progress and updates, and liaised with the local council and energy supplier on Daniel’s behalf. This has enabled us to address meter and billing issues, highlight and plan for a replacement meter and help get Daniel back on track with his energy account.
