VCMA project - Fuel Bank Foundation - Further expand Fuel Bank across Northern England

Concepts

• research and development
• leeds
• crisis fuel support
• fuel bank emergency financial support
• fuel bank
• new fuel bank centres
• fuel crisis
• northern gas networks
• northern england
• vcma programme

Location

North East England:

Description

The FBF has delivered support since 2015, however our network of partners significantly increased from 2022, with support from Northern Gas Networks via the VCMA Programme enabling the charity to expand to meet some of the increased demand we saw following the COVID pandemic, and then the cost-of-living crisis. This funding removed some of the barriers to expansion where previously our network shape and the support we could provide was constrained by the funding we had available.Given that our Fuel Bank infrastructure is already in place, that we have already tested and proven the provision of support to households across the country, and the short time required to launch new Fuel Bank centres we have the potential to expand with a further 75 partners over the colder winter months and providing longer-term surety as we move into 2024. In peak winter 2023-24 we forecast average monthly prepayment meter top up will approach £300, a 74% increase on the winter 2021- 22 peak, further demonstrating the need for crisis fuel support being made available.

Total Quantity or Scope

An extension for the project has been requested as people in fuel crisis are continuing to require Fuel Bank emergency financial support and advice. We anticipate over a quarter of a million people in the UK will ask us for emergency help this winter to keep their lights, power and heating on because they must prepay for energy but cannot afford to. Overall this project helps many customers who are struggling to put credit on their gas or electric meters.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Legal Justification

These services are only able to be delivered by this independent charity. The Fuel Bank Foundation (FBF) is an independent charity that aims to support families who pay in advance for energy, typically via a prepayment energy meter and are at risk of self-disconnection or severe rationing or indeed have self-disconnected. Self-disconnection is an unfortunate term: people don't choose to selfdisconnect, when the money runs out the electricity and gas switch off too. And in the current climate we are seeing more people than ever turn to the Foundation for much-needed support.

Other Information

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