The British Gas Energy Trust has invested around £13m to help people in or close to fuel poverty by funding 41 frontline money and energy advice projects across Britain.
Now in its 20th year, the Trust has helped more than 700,000 people across the UK with energy debt grants, funded money and energy advice services and emergency fuel vouchers. In the last 12 months, Trust funded organisations have helped write off £5.2 million worth of energy debt and provided £20.5 million in grants to help those struggling with energy costs.
Big Issue Changing Lives CIC has received £395,614 from the Trust, to deliver vital support to local communities over the next two years.
The Trust awarded the funding following a nationwide mapping exercise which identified organisations that are best placed to help people avoid the burden of energy debt and make better informed energy and money management choices.
More than six million households across the UK remain in fuel poverty [1]. With this funding, Big Issue Changing Lives CIC hopes to continue providing targeted money and energy interventions to 1,250 Big Issue vendors and their families over the next two years experiencing fuel poverty.
Catherine Parsons, Managing Director of Big Issue Changing Lives CIC, said:
“During its first 18 months, our project delivered vital energy and money advice to 698 Big Issue vendors and their families, who had been hardest hit by unprecedented energy price rises and the cost of living crisis. Thanks to the continued support of British Gas Energy Trust, we are delighted to be able to do more of this important work; reaching over 40% more Big Issue vendors – including members of the Roma community – requiring ongoing support to become more energy efficient and ultimately overcome fuel poverty for good.”
Jessica Taplin, CEO of the British Gas Energy Trust, said: