Cost of living Crisis News Round-up - Energy Grants and Advice part 1, October 2022

Here is another collection of funding announcements and resources aimed at helping charities continue their work to help others during the country’s Cost of living Crisis.

Whilst every effort has been made to provide up-to-date information, due to the varying nature and progress of public policies and other related activity, MVA do advise that some of the details below may have changed since the time of its issue and ask that readers please check with each organisation’s website for the latest news.

Energy Support Fund from British Gas Energy Trust
The British Gas Energy Trust are offering funds to British Gas Customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

The scheme is available to ALL types of customers - this includes customers on a pre-payment meter or a credit customer.

Designed to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or a household’s dual fuel energy account, The Trust will provide credit to the account of eligible applicants with the grant.

Before applying for a grant, The Trust encourage customers to contact their local Money Advice Agency for help as this would help that customer’s chances of a successful application.

The Trust says the scheme will remain open until funding is exhausted.

More details and how to apply are available at the Energy Trust’s website.

Individuals and Families Fund from British Gas Energy Trust
The British Gas Energy Trust are offering funding to customers from another energy supplier who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

The scheme is available to ALL types of customers - this includes customers on a pre-payment meter or a credit customer.

Designed to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or a household’s dual fuel energy account, The Trust will provide credit to the account of eligible applicants with the grant.

Before applying for a grant, The Trust encourage customers to contact their local Money Advice Agency for help as this would help that customer’s chances of a successful application.

The Trust says the scheme will remain open until funding is exhausted.

More details and how to apply are available at the Energy Trust’s website.

EDF Customer Support Fund
Energy Supplier EDF Energy are offering various support to customers experiencing financial hardship, including guidance to help with debt or energy poverty, as well as benefits and grants.

Working with Charis Grants, the EDF can offer funding to vulnerable customers through their Customer Support Fund, aimed at helping households stay out of fuel debt, and better able to afford ongoing energy costs.

Through EDF’s Customer Support Fund, they can also offer grants for essential energy efficient white goods such as cookers, refrigerators, or washing machines.

At the time of writing, there was no recognised deadline for any grant or funding help, suggesting they are Continuous Rolling Programmes and applications could be accepted at any time.

More information is available at the EDF website.

Working to provide resources to support the charity sector achieve and succeed, The Charity Excellence Framework CIO (CEF) offer a growing list of further support for Small Businesses and Enterprise, Community Groups, Charities, and similar organisations nationwide.
To find out more, visit their website.

MVA are also continuing their efforts to provide support and advice for the Charity Sector during these challenging times with their Reference Guide to Cost Cutting Measures, available in their Advice and Support pages.
If you would like to see coverage of specific news or subject to help your charity, your project, your community group or enterprise, you can get in touch by email at info@mva.org.uk, you can also contact MVA via the website.