As part of our cost-of-living support programme, we recently invited customers in Prescot down for ‘chips and chat’. Our teams were joined by Citizens Advice Knowsley to provide customers with energy advice and support around energy efficiency.
Our team were on hand to discuss the support and services we can offer and also gave out warm bags containing blankets, hot water bottles, hats, gloves and thermal mugs.
Citizens Advice Knowsley offered advice, guidance and support around energy efficiency, household bills and available grants.
With the cold weather, the dilemma of trying to keep warm, coupled with the rising cost of energy bills, is a challenge that many households are facing.
Over the winter, our teams have been out in the community providing customers across the borough with the same support.
Over 600 warm bags have been given out so far with many customers booked in with Citizens Advice Knowsley to support them with further energy saving measures such as LED bulbs, draught excluders and radiator panels.
The project is part of the energy efficiency element of our cost-of-living support programme for customers. We’re currently carrying out a carbon reduction retrofit programme and aiming for all our properties to have an EPC rating of C or above by 2025.
Access support
If you require energy advice or support around energy efficiency, you can call Citizens Advice Knowsley for telephone advice or arrange a home visit.
Email advice@citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk for a call back or call 0808 278 7839.
Other elements of our cost-of-living support programme includes:
- supporting customers with household bills
- access to healthy and affordable food
- access to better banking and low-cost regulated credit.
We’re working with Pocket Power to help customers make long-term savings by switching to better, cheaper deals on a range of bills and securing discounts, grants, and addressing utility debt. We’re also using recommendations from Pocket Power to supply customers with food and fuel vouchers to support with everyday living.
We’ve partnered with Alchemic Kitchen to deliver a food-based development programme. ‘Food in the Community’ increases customers’ access to healthy and affordable food, connectivity and improved mental health. Projects include cookery courses and a fruit and veg bus that visits customer locations each week.
Our cost-of-living support programme has been developed to help our customers navigate the financial pressures of the crisis with practical advice and help that’s seen more people with warmer homes, lower bills and access to good quality affordable food. Over the past 18 months, we’ve worked together with our partners to run a whole host of projects, programmes, events and activities to support those who need it most.
“The value of talking to our customers, the people who are living the experience, can’t be underestimated. We loved the idea of ‘chips and chat’ and are pleased that we were able to meet and speak to some of our customers who perhaps don’t contact us often.