The following resources are a selection of useful links Kensa has identified that may provide support or provide means for those who wish to offer support.
Areas covered include: Finance; Energy; Food; Health & Wellbeing; Transport.
To recommend a service for inclusion please email the sif_committee@thekensagroup.com
These documents have been produced by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Citizens Advice, Energy UK and Ofgem, the energy regulator.
Please note these guides are for domestic energy consumers. Non-domestic (business) energy consumers can access advice at: Energy advice for businesses.
The documents contain extensive advice and resources, with questions and topics based on input from charities and consumer bodies on the most common questions they are asked. Therefore the links available through Ofgem compliment and in some cases will duplicate those Kensa have also highlighted on this page.
Link – Ofgem Energy Domestic Consumer Advice for Autumn/Winter 2022
The council tax rebate will provide a payment of £150 to households living in council tax bands A – D. Local councils are responsible for determining who is eligible and making payments. These will be made from April 2022 and will not need to be paid back.
Not all Councils have processed the rebate automatically, so check with your local council to ensure you have either received this automatically, or if you need to manually claim this.
Link – Council Tax Rebate Factsheet
Link – Find and Contact Your Local Council
All UK households will receive a £400 energy rebate in October automatically.
There are also many ways to donate this to support others if you are able to do so. Some energy companies have a process for doing this direct or you can do so via charities (see suggestions below), or a simple Google search will provide alternative suggestions.
Link: https://www.nea.org.uk/donate/
Link: https://www.trusselltrust.org/make-a-donation/
Easy, free, clear and impartial money advice. It is recommended that you contact your local Money Advice Agency via Money Helper for help before applying for a grant. If you get advice, this will help your chances of a successful grant application.
Link: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/dealing-with-debt/use-our-debt-advice-locator
Independent personal money advice to help identify ways to increase income, reduce bills and deal with any problem debts. They can also help overcome tricky obstacles like phone calls to government departments, claim forms and incorrect benefit decisions.
Link: IncomeMax
National charity and network of local charities offering confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. Support available includes:
Get help with the cost of living
Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills
Check if you can pay less council tax
How to read your smart electricity meter
Check what benefits you can get
Link: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Adviceline (England): 0800 144 8848
Advicelink (Wales): 0800 702 2020
Provide advice, companionship, and services to support older people, particularly those living in poverty or isolation.
Link: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/
Run by national charity the Money Advice Trust, National Debtline offers practical self-help – empowering people in debt to speak to creditors directly and put solutions in place to resolve their debt problems. National Debtline has helped millions of people with their debts. They’ll talk you through options and give clear advice on how to take back control.
Link: https://nationaldebtline.org/
An independent charity providing support for warm and affordable homes.
Link: https://www.nea.org.uk/get-help/
Further Warm and Safe Homes Advice from the NEA charity available at https://www.nea.org.uk/wash-advice/additional-help/
Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. Free support for those in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face-to face via partner organisations.
Link: turn2us
This is a Hub of connections to various Charities which support Money management, Debt advice and Mental health referrals.
Link: Vulnerability Registration Service
Free debt advice.
Link: https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice.aspx
Individuals and families can apply for grants to clear domestic gas and electricity debts. Before applying to the Trust you must get money or debt advice first. You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this fund.
Link: https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/
MoneySavingExpert.com is the UK’s biggest consumer website, with more than 16 million users a month. The site’s dedicated to cutting bills – highlighting deals, ways to save money, and campaigning for financial justice.
National Food Bank Network, which also provides practical support for people in crisis, to assist them to tackle issues. Local referrals.
Independent advice and information on energy efficiency solution https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/
Government endorsed website for information regarding reducing energy bills, energy efficiency, grants and funding
Link: http://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/
Community Energy Plus is an award-winning social enterprise that provides complete energy answers to help householders in Cornwall enjoy warmer, energy efficient homes as part of a more sustainable future.
Link: https://www.cep.org.uk/
A network of local advice centres covering all of Scotland. Their advisors offer free, impartial advice on energy saving, keeping warm at home, renewable energy, greener travel, cutting water waste and more.
Link: https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/
The Nest scheme offers a range of free, impartial advice and, if you are eligible, a package of free home energy efficiency improvements such as a new boiler, central heating, insulation, or solar panels for people in Wales.
Link: https://nest.gov.wales/
Charis manage financial grant schemes on behalf of energy companies, authorities and charities, including:
British Gas – https://charisgrants.com/partners/british-gas/
BES Utilities – https://charisgrants.com/partners/bes-utilities/
E.ON – https://charisgrants.com/partners/e-on/
E.ON Next – https://charisgrants.com/partners/eon-next/
EDF – https://charisgrants.com/partners/edf-energy/
Scottish Power – https://charisgrants.com/partners/scottish-power/
SSE – https://charisgrants.com/partners/sse/
Ovo Energy – https://charisgrants.com/partners/ovo-energy/
Park Homes – https://charisgrants.com/partners/park-homes/
Utility Warehouse – https://charisgrants.com/partners/utility-warehouse/
To identify which schemes are currently open for applications, or those schemes which are coming soon, visit https://charisgrants.com/individuals/
Charity in England and Wales set up to provide advice and support to victims of anti-social behaviour. Advice Guidance, community linking. National managed from a single Hub.
Link – ASB HELP
CALM are taking a stand against suicide by standing together with everyone who’s struggling with life, no matter who they are, where they’re from or what they’re going through.
Link – The Calm Zone
(Wales) 0800123737
Organisation that is focused on Mental Health Issues, National Charity with Local signposting together with outreach support.
Link – MIND – Mental Health Support)
The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people providing support from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Engage via their online community, on social, through their free, confidential helpline or counselling service.
Link: https://www.themix.org.uk/
Child Support referrals, Regional and National Hubs, with Localised signposting, including safeguarding and Mental Health.
Link- NSPCC – Child Support Service Hub
Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call:116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
National Charity with local referral hubs offering free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health.
The following are some UK-based formal lift sharing providers that could help reduce your travel costs:
