The British Gas Energy Trust launched the fourth round of its winter money and energy advice Post Office Pop-Ups on 15 October 2024. The sessions run every Tuesday and Wednesday until March 2025 in Post Offices across Britain, and are open to customers of all energy providers, not only British Gas1.
The Trust describes itself as an independent charity funded solely by British Gas. It lists four main types of support: energy debt relief grants, emergency energy grants, white goods, and a network of more than 40 money and energy advice projects1. Customers in energy debt from any supplier can apply for a grant to pay off arrears through the Trust's website, and the Pop-Ups offer access to energy debt grants of up to £2,0001.
The drop-ins do not require appointments and are aimed partly at people who may not know what support exists or who face digital exclusion. Advice on offer covers budget planning, benefits and income maximisation checks, energy efficiency measures, and general support with housing, employment and mental health, alongside help accessing Trust grants and other financial support1.
The Trust says it has assisted more than 800,000 people with money and energy issues over the past 20 years, investing nearly £200 million, and that it helped over 60,000 people manage household budgets and address fuel debt in the last year alone1. It says 40 Pop-Ups are planned this winter1.
"As winter approaches, the British Gas Energy Trust is thrilled to launch the fourth round of its winter money and energy advice British Gas Post Office Pop-Ups"
Jessica Taplin, chief executive of the Trust, said its mission was to ensure no one feels alone this winter, and encouraged those most vulnerable to use the free, impartial resources. Simon Lambert, commercial and operations director at Post Office, said over a million energy customers visit its branches each week to pay bills or top up1.
Why it matters for households
Energy debt grants of up to £2,000 are one of the few routes by which a household in arrears can reduce what it owes without borrowing, and eligibility here is not restricted to British Gas customers1. For a home trying to keep its energy costs under control, clearing arrears can matter as much as the unit rate, because debt repayments are typically added to an ongoing bill.
The in-person format is aimed at households that cannot easily apply online, including older people and those with health conditions, and the Trust says previous attendees reported feeling less stressed about their energy bills and more confident managing their finances1. The Trust's own grants and schemes pages set out the wider landscape of household support, and its advice work sits alongside that of the statutory energy consumer bodies such as Citizens Advice, Consumer Scotland and the Consumer Council. For households weighing a change of energy supplier, the Trust states that debt with any supplier does not bar an application for its grants1.
What happens next
The Pop-Ups run every Tuesday and Wednesday from 15 October 2024 to March 20251. The Trust's page carries a note that the post has not been updated in a while and that some details may no longer be accurate, directing readers to its support pages for current information1. No closing date for grant applications beyond the March 2025 window has been reported.
Sources1 cited
- Winter Money and Energy Support Pop-Ups Launch in Post Offices Across the UK - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk