Fuel Bank Foundation
Lifting 20,000 younger households out of energy crisis with advice and financial help
Our project at a glance
- Strategic priority area: Targeting geographic communities most at risk of fuel poverty
- Support target: 20,000 households over 18 months
- Duration: October 2024 to March 2026
- Investment: £1,299,962 across two projects over 18 months
- Forecast SROI: £2.42 for our Scotland project and £2.11 for our Southern project
Anything that releases suffering, it helps lessen anxiety – when you don’t know when the next meal is coming or when you’re going to have electricity, it causes anxiety – so the voucher and advice makes a lot of difference.
Fuel Bank Foundation beneficiary
Why we’re working together
Typical energy bills are currently around 40% higher than before the energy crisis and they’re unlikely to return to more normal levels for some time. On top of this, higher food bills, increased rent and mortgage payments and paying off previously accrued debts means many families are at financial breaking point.
Fuel Bank Foundation has seen that younger people are desperately struggling, with people aged 18 to 35 most likely to be living in perpetual fuel crisis. As the group most likely to have children at home, their outgoings often far exceed the money coming in. They’re also the most likely age group to be new to prepayment meters and struggling to adjust to a new way of planning their energy use and finances.
We’ve teamed up with Fuel Bank Foundation to improve access to energy support for young people aged 18 to 35 living across the south of England and in Scotland. Through our two regional programmes, we’re building a network of entry point organisations to introduce crisis support and energy safeguarding services into young communities most in need.
Project objectives
- Establishing an entry point network of partners across Scotland and the south of England to reach younger households in crisis
- Providing urgent financial support to younger households in energy crisis
- Supporting eligible households to sign up for the Priority Services Register
- Raising awareness of carbon monoxide safety and providing free CO alarms to households most at risk of CO harm
- Providing heated blankets to households with health conditions in need of additional heat
How we’re working together
Energy crisis funding and advice
We’re creating a network of organisations, both in Scotland and across the south of England, that will enable younger households to access energy advice and crisis funding from Fuel Bank Foundation. These organisations include universities and community groups, already trusted and used by young people aged 18 to 35.
Through these ‘entry point’ organisations, we’re able to provide emergency funding that lasts around 10 days. In addition to this crisis funding, we provide energy advice to help lower household bills and prevent the household from needing to access crisis funding again in future. We’re also supporting households with accessing the Priority Services Register and understanding carbon monoxide safety in the home.
Winter crisis funding
Ahead of winter 2023-34, we recognised that Fuel Bank Foundation would experience increased demand as households felt the impact of the cost-of-living even more acutely over the colder winter months. Before establishing our regional programmes, and in addition to our ongoing joint-GDN programme, we also established an SGN winter crisis fund, investing £150,000 to support local organisations helping people in crisis.
How to get involved
Becoming a Fuel Bank Foundation partner
Fuel Bank Foundation delivers support through a number of trusted community partners up and down the country, including local authorities, housing associations, local debt support charities and community groups.
You can find out more about partnering with Fuel Bank Foundation to refer younger households for support by getting in touch through the Fuel Bank Foundation website. Please reference that you are one of our VCMA network partners.
At Fuel Bank Foundation, we see first hand the devastating impact that fuel poverty has on families, particularly younger people who are often facing impossible financial choices. Our partnership with SGN enables us to reach those who are struggling the most - providing emergency support when it’s needed and helping people take control of their energy costs in the long term. Together, we are building a stronger safety net for young families and individuals, ensuring they have the advice and resources to stay warm, safe, and financially stable.