The British Gas Energy Trust publicised on 13 January 2025 that it has two energy debt support funds open for households struggling with bills this winter. The Individuals and Families Fund and the Energy Support Fund both offer grants of up to £2,000, and are open to British Gas and non-British Gas customers across England, Scotland and Wales1.
The Trust said it supported more than 64,000 households across Britain in 2023-24 with money and energy advice, emergency fuel payments, white goods and energy debt grants1. It pointed to the recent increase to the energy price cap and the ongoing cost of living as reasons many households are finding it harder to keep their homes warm and their bills manageable1.
The Trust described one case in which a customer, identified only as Ms N, who lives with her partner and three children, was awarded a £995 grant. As part of her application she received money advice from StepChange, which the Trust said showed she could manage her costs moving forward1.
Jessica Taplin, chief executive of the Trust, said:
"The first step for anyone struggling with their energy bills is to reach out to their energy supplier. Once this step has been taken, it's also a good idea to check your eligibility for external support. The Trust's support funds are there to help individuals with energy debt and we encourage every household to apply if they qualify, and to share this information with friends and family, as no one should have to navigate these challenging times alone."
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. The announcement does not state closing dates for either fund, nor the total amount available to distribute. Those details have not been reported1.
Why it matters for households
Energy debt grants reduce the amount a household owes to its supplier, which is a different thing from a discount on future bills. For a home carrying arrears, a grant of this kind can clear part or all of the balance and remove the repayment arrangement that sits on top of ongoing usage. That matters for energy independence because arrears and their repayment plans tie a household's budget to a past period of high prices, at the same time as it must pay for current consumption.
The Trust's funds are one route among several. Households in England, Scotland and Wales have different supplier obligations and public schemes behind them, covered in the guides to help with energy bills in England, Scotland and Wales. The wider landscape of crisis funds and hardship grants and of energy debt write-off grants sets out how debt support sits alongside home energy grants for insulation and heating measures, which address the size of the bill rather than the arrears on it.
What happens next
The Trust has not published a closing date for either fund in this announcement1. Its page advises checking its support pages for the most up to date information, since the post may no longer be accurate1.
Sources1 cited
- Vulnerable households to receive vital energy debt grants - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk