A helping hand: resources and support available this Challenge Poverty Week

Challenge Poverty Week serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle against poverty in communities across Britain, particularly Scotland.

Organised by The Poverty Alliance, the week-long event runs from 7^th October to 13^th October 2024, with each day dedicated to a specific theme including housing, transport, adequate incomes, food, communities and volunteers, culminating in a day of reflection.

This annual initiative encourages individuals, organisations, and communities to understand the systemic causes of poverty and to engage in meaningful solutions.

During the week, it is important to highlight not only the challenges but also the support available for those affected, including the resources available from the British Gas Energy Trust.

The British Gas Energy Trust is a Charitable Trust established in 2004 and independent from, but solely funded by, British Gas. Its mission is to alleviate the detrimental impact of poverty, with a focus on fuel poverty.

Support is delivered through three programmes: debt relief grants direct to households; a small grants programme that provides emergency energy vouchers and payments; and a programme that funds over 40 money and energy advice projects throughout Britain.

Today, 9th October, the specific theme set forward is adequate income. The Poverty Alliance states ‘We all have the right to an adequate standard of living. This includes not only essential needs such as safe housing, food security, and accessible transportation, but also liveable incomes, adequate social services, enhanced social security support, and a stigma-free experience when accessing entitlements.’

In 2023-24, Trust funded money and energy advisors supported over 7,200 clients located in Scotland to gain more than £3.5 million in income, and manage £3.5 million of debt. The Trust also provided over 4,900 emergency energy payments or energy debt write-off grants.

The Trust’s Individuals and Families Fund is currently open, providing eligible households with grants of up to £1,700 for energy debt.

This fund is available to both British Gas and non-British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter accounts. The following eligibility criteria apply:

• You live in England, Scotland, or Wales
• You have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 2 years
• You must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account. The account must be in your name and relate to your main residence
• You have received help from a money advice agency within the last 6 months
• If you are a customer of OVO, Boost, Eon, Eon Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita you must apply to your own suppliers support fund

To read more about the grant and to apply, please click here.