Winter Fuel Vouchers for those in financial crisis

Aim

Helping individuals access support with fuel payments, including accessing winter fuel discounts and Social Fund Schemes

We want to be able to support families, individuals and couples who are on pre-payment meters with fuel vouchers, purchased via our local infrastructure organisation (Bromsgrove and Redditch Network). 

We have been running a survey over the past month among the people we serve in Bromsgrove, Redditch and New Frankley (South West Birmingham) in order to understand the help that residents want. Currently the results around keeping warm are: 

87% are worried about their utility bills 

79% want help with their own bills in the form of vouchers or cash 

44% would like additional warm clothing and bedding to keep warm 

13% would like to go to somewhere outside of their home. 

70% will not use a warm hub in the evening 

42% will not use a warm hub in the day, even to eat a meal

The fuel vouchers we wish to provide will normally cost £49 for a family and £29 for an individual/couple. The funding will enable us to support between 200 and 350 households over the six months with this particular piece of work. This work will ensure that the most vulnerable households will have access to gas and electric over the next six months. 

In addition, we will be providing free warm clothing and bedding to those who request it, again ensuring that they are able to keep warm through the winter. Our money mentors will continue to assist those who find themselves in debt and we will also be running budgeting sessions, in order to strengthen people's skills in this area. Our mentors will support individuals, couples, families  

This project successfully funded on 2nd February 2023