Addressing
Hardship and Crisis Our Crisis & Energy Department was formed to bring together our energy team, our Help Through Crisis team and our foodbank advisers to help clients in a crisis. We saw a profound increase in the amount of people struggling with debt in the past year. Within the first seven working days of 2023 alone, we helped 280 people in crisis after falling into debt. As people struggle to meet the increasing cost of affording basic necessities such as food and utilities, they are forced to make tough decisions. Our Foodbank Advisers are stationed at local food banks to provide support to vulnerable food bank users. They ensure that clients struggling with food insecurity have access to food parcels. Our Energy Team provides in-depth energy advice, information on energy costs and efficiency, ensures clients are on the best possible tariff, and issues emergency fuel vouchers for those in need. Our Help Through Crisis Team analyses clients' complex issues and identifies solutions to help them resolve issues, improve physical and/or mental health, and maintain resilience following our support.
The Energy Team Our energy advisers have been at the forefront of Norfolk's energy and fuel struggles during the increase of energy and fuel costs and the cost-of-living crisis. Our two dedicated energy advisers work in service to the whole of Norfolk. Their impact has made significant waves both within the organization and across the county.
A Case Study
Energy advisers Vivian Grimmer (left) and Sue Whitworth (right) receiving the Client Impact award
A client approached us who was a single parent with two children aged 2 and 4 living in a poorly insulated property with a oil boiler. They were receiving a small self-employed income and relied on Universal Credit and child benefit for most of her living costs. Due to her financial situation, she wasn’t able to purchase oil and her tank was nearly empty. She wasn’t previously aware of the risks of Carbon Monoxide with an oil boiler, so an adviser provided her with safeguarding information and a Carbon Monoxide alarm. She was provided with information on how to reduce energy costs, and informed of an electric company app she could install which would allow her to monitor her use in more detail in future.
The adviser also helped her complete a successful application for £466.73 of oil!
"I mean, it’s hard to describe how much it helps... The feeling of being able to have a shower, and heat the house for the girls. As a single parent I often don’t feel like I have that much support. It’s made a big difference as I feel supported and looked after, beyond just the keeping warm. It’s a greater feeling than just that."
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