The British Gas Energy Trust, the independent charitable trust funded by British Gas, has partnered with the Post Office and eight local community-based charities to run free, drop-in events at post offices across the UK this winter1. The pop-ups are being held in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Leeds, Newport and Stockport, according to the Post Office's commercial and operations director, Simon Lambert1. The announcement was published on 25 October 20241.
On offer at the events will be budget planning, energy debt advice, help with accessing energy debt write-off grants and energy efficiency measures1. The trust says its Individuals and Families Fund, which provides energy debt write-off grants, is open now, and that its Energy Support Fund opens on 4 November for households facing fuel poverty, among other criteria1.
The events follow polling of 2,000 adults commissioned by British Gas. It found 39 per cent have difficulty managing their energy bills, but 45 per cent have never sought assistance, whether from loved ones or professional advice1. Reasons given were a belief they would not qualify for support (34 per cent), stigma or embarrassment (28 per cent) and lack of information (26 per cent)1. A fifth believe there is not enough energy advice support available, and 42 per cent are worried about keeping on top of things this winter1.
Among those who have previously got help, 35 per cent turned to friends or family, 27 per cent used Government schemes and 24 per cent sought financial advice or counselling1. When speaking to someone about support, 26 per cent would want a face-to-face conversation, while 35 per cent find it difficult to talk about struggles paying energy bills1. Six in 10 respondents think there should be more support programmes for people managing rising energy costs1.
Jessica Taplin, chief executive of British Gas Energy Trust, said:
"We know some consumers really want face to face advice so these pop-ups are just one way we're helping those already struggling with rising living costs this winter."
Abi Robins, Director of Responsible Business at British Gas, said donations from British Gas to the trust have topped £200m since 2004, alongside matched debt repayments and non-repayable credit for struggling customers1.
Why it matters for households
Energy debt advice and grant access sit alongside the wider help with energy bills and debt in England and the home energy grants and schemes available across the UK. The trust's own funds are a route to grants for energy debt, and the polling suggests awareness of eligibility is a barrier: a third of those surveyed assumed they would not qualify1. The events also cover energy efficiency measures, which affect how much energy a home needs in the first place, a factor in energy bills and energy independence.
The trust's funds operate on criteria including fuel poverty, and the source does not set out the full eligibility rules or the value of individual grants1. The source also does not give the specific dates, times or addresses of the pop-up events beyond the seven cities named1.
What happens next
The Energy Support Fund opens on 4 November 20241. The Individuals and Families Fund is open now1. The pop-ups run this winter, though no closing date has been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- Half of consumers who struggle with their energy bills have never asked for help. - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk