Help with the costs of winter
Winter produces additional costs and needs to keep households warm and safe. That is why we are dedicating this months newsletter to the help and support that is available to residents in Broxtowe. Fuel poverty has significantly increased during the cost-of-living crisis but help is out there. Thanks to support from our national body Citizens Advice Broxtowe have been able to employ a fully trained Energy Adviser. However, it’s important not to look at fuel costs in isolation. That is why we offer an holistic Financial Resilience package for those that need it. So, if you are struggling with the costs of keeping your home warm contact us and we will be here to support residents of Broxtowe through the winter and beyond.
Energy Advice
If you wish to speak with an Energy Advisor contact one of our offices or call the national Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. Online help can be found here.
The Winter 2023 Voluntary Debt Commitment has been developed with Energy UK, Ofgem and Citizens Advice, means that energy suppliers are going further than existing regulatory obligations to provide better support to residential customers who are falling behind on their bills. The commitments include:
- substantial pledges of additional financial support
- training for frontline staff
- talking to callers with debt problems
- proactively identifying customers struggling to pay bills
The commitments also involve continued close working with debt charities and consumer bodies who can offer specialist advice and make referrals, and steps to provide suitable solutions for customers in debt, and ensure they are treated fairly at all times.
If you are struggling to keep you home warm because of poor insulation, draft or even dampness you can request a home assessment from the Green Doctor. They will give your home a check-up and offer you energy-saving advice and practical support to see if you can save energy or access financial incentives. Contact the Green Doctor by completing the simple online form here. If you need help with a referral we are happy to assist.
During the summer our Days of Action were successful in reaching people who required help with the cost-of-living. The Days of Action helped to secure a total of nearly £300k additional income during 26 events. We are now working on a winter programme to reach more people with the help they need. Keep a watch on our website as we will be announcing the winter 2023 programme soon. But if you need help don’t wait, contact us now.
If you’re a permanent resident living in a park home and you pay for your electricity to the park site owner you can apply for a £150 payment. Funding is limited and applications will be considered on a first come first served basis, one per household so get you application in now.
Broxtowe Borough Council and Nottingham West Primary Care Network have worked together to produce Winter Support leaflet which contains a wealth of information on warm spaces, food and meal offers, food banks and where to get help with the cost-of-living. You can download the leaflet below:
Help if you have been impacted by flooding
Broxtowe was affected particularly badly by the recent heavy rain and flooding. Last week we put together some useful resources for households impacted by flooding. You can find the webpage here.
Community round-up
