British Gas Energy Trust helps more people with energy debt as demand increases

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The number of households and energy advice centres receiving support from the British Gas Energy Trust has increased by almost a quarter this year (24%), as the organisation continues to provide grant funding to help people struggling to pay their energy bills. 

Funded solely by British Gas, the independent charity reports it has supported more than 29,000 individuals and advice-giving organisations with £6.2million worth of grant funding over the last twelve months.

The Trust has two main programmes that are designed to alleviate the effects of fuel poverty in England, Scotland and Wales: direct household grants, and support for money and energy advice services. Over the last 12 months, 1,388 grants totalling £1m have been provided to help households facing financial hardship with energy debts between £250 and £1500, with an additional £84,000 worth of emergency utility credit vouchers being distributed to the most vulnerable.

And following a nationwide mapping exercise that identified the parts of the country most in need of additional support, 26 community energy advice organisations received a share of £2.5m to extend their ongoing work to provide free and impartial energy debt advice.

This year, The British Gas Energy Support Fund has also been created, to support vulnerable British Gas customers who are struggling to pay their bills. An initial £6m investment from British Gas was followed by the announcement that 10 per cent of the firm’s energy supply profits will be donated to the Fund for the duration of the energy crisis, backdated to the start of 2022. 

The British Gas Energy Support Fund is being administered by the British Gas Energy Trust, which has paid out £1.1m in grants so far. More than a third of the recipients are on disability benefits and many are families – 30 per cent are single parents and a quarter have children under 5 years old. 

Jessica Taplin, CEO of the British Gas Energy Trust, said: “Soaring living and domestic fuel costs this year have laid bare the harsh and harmful reality of fuel poverty across the UK. The number of people contacting us for support has increased significantly and as a Trust we remain committed to helping those most in need. Through our grant giving programmes for both individuals and charitable organisations we have been able to help even more people meet these challenges and alleviate the detrimental impact of fuel poverty.”

Chris O’Shea, Chief Executive of Centrica, said: “The current cost of living crisis requires all of us to think differently. As a responsible business, we want to do more to support our customers and communities during this difficult time. Committing ten percent of our British Gas Energy profits for the duration of the energy crisis enables us to do just that and will mean we can target help at those who need it the most, on top of the support we already provide to get people back on their feet.”

Since its launch in 2004, the British Gas Energy Trust has invested over £130 million and helped more than 500,000 people manage their energy costs.

More information can be found in the British Gas Energy Trust Impact Report 21/22, visit https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/

British Gas Energy Trust Funding Workstream Breakdown: