27 Nov Citizens Advice and Kernow King Tackle Fuel Poverty in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly This Winter
Citizens Advice is launching two new initiatives to tackle the problem of fuel poverty in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly this winter.
Official Government statistics show that 13% of households in Cornwall and 21% of households on the Isles of Scilly are affected by fuel poverty, one of the highest rates in the country.
Citizens Advice Cornwall has teamed-up with Cornish comic and actor, Kernow King, to produce a new fast-paced video to show people how they can save money and keep warm by following some simple, practical steps at home.
Citizens Advice Cornwall Chief Executive, Gill Pipkin, said: “With the economic effects of the coronavirus lockdown, the effects of not having enough money to pay fuel bills could be greater than ever this winter, so we are putting a big effort into helping people cope with the cold and keep their bills down.”
The charity has also launched an advice service to give people one-to-one phone and online advice on making their homes warm, switching supplier, paying-off fuel bills and highlighting various grants and schemes that could help them.
The project, backed by Western Power Distribution and the Energy Saving Trust, is free and open to anyone worried about energy costs this winter.
Powerhouse, another project launched by Citizens Advice and funded by Ofgem, targets young people in Cornwall who are not in education, employment or training (NEETS) or leaving care.
The key aims of the scheme are that participants can better manage their fuel payments and remain out of fuel debt and poverty as a result; access additional income through benefits which will help them meet their fuel bills; access improvements in insulation or heating provision to make them meet their fuel bills, and in the process, reduce their energy consumption and contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
Members of the public can access advice on energy issues by texting the word ADVICE to 78866 and they’ll receive a call back within 48 hours (excluding weekends).
