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Fuel Poverty Awareness Day – support and advice available to help residents keep warm and well this winter
Related topics: Community / Cost of living / Housing
To mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (27 November 2024), Shropshire Council and partners, Shrewsbury base charity Marches Energy Association (MEA) are highlighting the support available to Shropshire residents who may be struggling to heat their home.

The council’s affordable warmth and energy efficiency team along with MEA offer a wide range of advice, support, and grants to help those in fuel poverty.

Support available
Keep Shropshire Warm – is the council’s free and impartial energy advice service, managed by MEA. Keep Shropshire Warm offers free and impartial advice and support on a wide range of energy issues, including supporting residents to apply for financial support and energy efficiency grants. If you are struggling to pay your energy bills or are worried about rising bills the team can help. Get in touch with the team by calling their helpline 0800 112 3743 or email ksw@mea.org.uk for free and impartial advice.
New guide to stay warm and well this winter – MEA have also put together a detailed guide on how you can stay warm and well this winter, the leaflet includes lots of energy saving tips and support with bills and suppliers. https://mea.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/KSW-Winter-worries-and-wis...
Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 – Shropshire Council’s Affordable Warmth and Energy Efficiency team are currently delivering grants via the Government’s latest Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme. The scheme is set to support over 350 vulnerable and at-risk residents to improve insulation and install more efficient heating systems, with investments set to total over £6m. The scheme is currently closed for new applications. However, residents can express their interest and register for updates about future schemes coming in 2025 at www.shropshire.gov.uk/awee.
Funding and support opportunities for organisations running warm hubs this winter – Many of Shropshire’s voluntary and community organisations will be operating Shropshire Warm Welcome venues for residents this winter. Thanks to Household Support Funding, grant opportunities are now available to community-run Warm Hubs, administered by the Marches Energy Agency (MEA) to help them with the running of the warm hubs. The grants vary in size from varying in size from £50 up to £5000 and can used towards energy costs, contribution towards insurance/cleaning/maintenance costs, relevant equipment/refreshments, provision of activities and other related costs. Community groups will also receive support with: Information on training, resources, and grant funding opportunities and cost of living leaflets and signposting information. Community organisations can find out more about the funding opportunities and apply here: https://bit.ly/ShropshireWarmHubs. Organisations can also email the team at WarmHubs@mea.org.uk.
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day 2024 graphic
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day 2024 graphic

Councillor Dean Carroll, Cabinet Member for Housing and Assets, said:

“We are committed to ensuring that our residents have the support they need to keep their homes warm and energy efficient.

“Fuel Poverty Awareness Day highlights that many households across the UK face difficulties in maintaining adequate warmth at home during the winter.

“With ongoing cost of living challenges, an increasing number of households are beginning the colder months with concerns about affording to keep warm. According to government figures, over 25,000 households in Shropshire struggle to achieve affordable warmth.

“I therefore strongly encourage anyone who is struggling to keep their home warm, to seek advice and support and to contact our Keep Shropshire Warm team who will be able to help.”

Other fuel related support
Pension credit

Those over the state pension age are also being urged to check if they are eligible for pension credit, winter fuel payments and other benefits they may be entitled to.
Those over State Pension age, may be eligible to claim Pension Credit, even if they own their home or have savings.

People who claim Pension Credit may also be able to get:

The Winter Fuel Payment*and other help with heating costs
Help with rent and Council Tax
A free TV Licence for those aged 75 or over
Help with the cost of NHS services, such as NHS dental treatment, glasses, and transport costs for hospital appointments.
You need to apply by 21 December 2024 to qualify for the 2024 to 2025 Winter Fuel Payment.

People can find out more at www.gov.uk/pension-credit.

Cost of living support
For anyone who is struggling with their day-to-day finances, please visit Shropshire Council’s cost of living help webpages for advice and support at www.shropshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living-help

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day 2024 campaign
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, organised by National Energy Action (NEA), the national fuel poverty and energy efficiency charity aims to highlight the detrimental impacts experienced by people living in fuel poverty.

Fuel poverty affects millions of people from all different demographics – young people, older people, those with disabilities, carers and more. Energy prices are still 50% higher than pre-crisis levels and people are struggling to stay warm, safe, and healthy in their homes.

To find out more about the Fuel Poverty Awareness Day visit Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (FPAD) – National Ener