Connected for Warmth is an award-winning energy efficiency programme, providing grants to install fully funded insulation measures nationwide.
Find out more here: https://www.connectedforwarmth.org.uk/how-this-works
If you are caring for someone unpaid and finding it hard to manage rising costs, Carers UK have free resources and guidance pages to help you.
Find out more about help with energy costs: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-bills-and-household-costs/help-with-energy-costs/
RNIB can provide grants to registered blind or partially sighted people for useful technology that can help them live independently.
Find out more here: https://www.rnib.org.uk/living-with-sight-loss/money-and-benefits/grants-from-rnib/
Age UK have created a new cost of living hub with information and guides to allow older people to feel more in control of their finances.
Their winter wrapped up guide outlines how older people can prepare themselves and their home for the winter months.
Their MoneyHelper partnership pack. It provides more information about service, including their new bill prioritiser – an interactive tool that helps prioritise and tackle bills and payments - guidance for people living on a squeezed budget and the debt advice locator tool.
British Gas have been doing everything they can to hold down the price of energy for their customers including freezing direct debit payments through the winter, and creating a £2m winter fund to provide energy grants to help some customers and their families this winter. Support includes:
- Priority Services Register – for households that need extra support, such as free annual gas safety checks.
- Sources of additional support – such as Citizens Advice and the Money Advice Service; as well as contact information for our customers.
- Assessing eligibility for grants through the British Gas Energy Trust (even if you’re not a British Gas customer) which offers energy debt advice and support.
- In December 2021, British Gas launched a £2m fund to help our most financially vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills this winter.
To find out more information on their support, click here.
361 Community Energy is a not-for-profit company based locally in North Devon. With a mission to reduce carbon footprint, 361 offer free energy efficiency visit to local residents to reduce their fuel bills and help to access grants for loft insulation, wall insulation and new boilers.
To find out more information on home energy efficiency reviews, click here.
Citizens Advice offer a range of support and information on discount schemes and available financial support to help you through winter months.
Cold weather payments and Warm Home discount schemes can offer up to £140 off your electricity bill.
To find out if you are eligible for Winter Fuel Payments, Warm Home discount schemes, or are in debt to your energy provider and are looking for information on grants click here to find a compilation of Government and Energy Supplier advice.
The Fuel Bank Foundation offers a range of advice and services to help from help to apply for help to money saving tips.
Fair for You Enterprise CIC is an ethical lender, backed by leading charities and foundations, and the Government’s dormant assets scheme. We lend to some of the poorest people in the UK - the roughly 10 million who struggle to access mainstream credit, enabling them to quickly buy household essentials online. Retail partners include Argos, Currys, Habitat, Carpetright and Whirlpool
There is help available if you’re worried about your energy bills. Smart Energy GB have worked together to create a helpful advice guide.
Find out more: https://www.smartenergygb.org/advice-for-those-worried-about-energy-bills
If you are a prepay customer, having a smart meter allows you to set budget alerts and top up from home online, by text or with an app.
The in-home display will also show how much credit you have left.
Find out more here: https://www.smartenergygb.org/benefits-for-prepay-customers
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Food Banks, Pantries and other Social Enterprises
To help mitigate the cost of living, there are a range of local services offering free support and advice as families may struggle with the cost of living.
One Northern Devon is a local partnership working to improve the wellbeing of the people of North Devon and Torridge, looking to tackle problems facing local residents such as unsuitable housing, poor employment prospects and social isolation.
This partnership offers one-to-one support to improve the health and wellbeing of all local residents.
North Devon Homes (NDH) is a registered charity providing a number of support services and a provider of affordable homes for those who need them.
As well as affordable housing, NDH offers many Independent Living Schemes to provide a safe and comforting community for over 55s to enjoy an independent way of living with available support. Click here to check the availability of Independent living Schemes as well as contact details and locations.
Anyone can reach crises point for a number of different reasons. Northern Devon Foodbank offers a range of supportive measures for those who need it, offering food up to 7 days of food parcels which can be organised in person or by phone. Foodbanks work using a voucher referral system to help provide you with the most appropriate help for your circumstances.
Foodbank volunteers are specially trained to know about local services and offer practical guidance to assist you to break out of crises point.
Further information including contact details and location can be found on their website by clicking here.
Encompass South West is an independent regional charity which provides a range of advice, information and support services to rural and remote services.
With a focus on homelessness, housing support and financial advice, if you need advice please seek support and advice as soon as possible to help prevent you becoming homeless or to find you supported accommodation. To make a referral, Encompasses referral form can be found by clicking here.