In February 2022 we were conscious of warnings about energy costs rising and wanted to both help those least able to cope with this (for obvious reasons) and to show how reducing energy consumption and reducing energy bills go hand in hand.

We teamed up with a local charity (the Terminus Initiative) operating on the Lowedges estate to contact two bodies that could help. These were National Energy Action (which can help with the financial aspects) and the Green Doctor scheme (which can visit homes and install energy-saving measures for people). Both provided speakers, and Terminus booked the community hall, provided refreshments and arranged the publicity. This proved useful, and NEA subsequently held further advice sessions at three local libraries.

This is one testimonial from one of those sessions: R came to talk to NEA and is struggling with health problems and debts, both his own and his mother’s. NEA looked at the evidence R had brought with him and gave him a fuel voucher, which he could use immediately to top up his meter, which had been in danger of being disconnected. He said that it was a godsend.