VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England

Descriptions

The Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) is an independent charity that aims to support families who pay in advancefor energy, typically via a prepayment energy meter and are at risk of self-disconnection or severe rationing orindeed have self-disconnected. Self-disconnection is an unfortunate term: people don't choose to selfdisconnect,when the money runs out the electricity and gas switch off too. And in the current climate we areseeing more people than ever turn to the Foundation for much-needed support. These services are only ableo be delivered by this independent charity.As a fully independent charitable foundation 'Fuel Bank' has supported over 1 million people - who in turn aresupplied by all UK energy suppliers - since launch eight years ago. We have developed a network of 675partners across the country who act as an entry point into Fuel Bank. A mix of national bodies and local,community-based organisations, what unites them and makes them part of Fuel Bank is that they target distinctdemographic groups or particular types of need and identify households in Fuel Crisis. These families arereferred into and provided with same-day help from Fuel Bank, to get 'the lights back on and the gas reflowingby tea-time', alongside being provided by relevant and easy-to-access energy advice to give additional supportand to lower household money spent on energy. Our key target is that we provide support and help to peoplewithin hours of them being referred to us; currently we achieve this over 98% of the time. This creates theenabler that advice provided can be acted upon, with an aim to reduce the propensity for future referral intoFuel Bank for continued crisis help.