British Gas Energy Trust Trustees visit Citizens Advice Sandwell and Walsall

British Gas Energy Trust Trustees visited Citizens Advice Sandwell and Walsall (CA S&W) at the start of the month to hear first-hand about their Trust funded project.

What started as a 9-month covid response project in 2020 has evolved into a strong partnership, resulting in CAS&W being able to support increasing levels of clients year on year.

Their Annual General Meeting had taken place prior to the Trustee visit, so they were able to share photos, videos and information from the event.

They stated that the changing demographic of those effected by the cost of living means utility bills have become one of the top four issues for their clients. They are also seeing higher levels of clients with mortgage or council tax arrears, more working families at risk of fuel poverty, clients with negative budgets each month, and elderly clients stating they must choose between heating and eating.

In the last few months, CA S&W applied 500 casework hours to helping clients through their funded money and energy project, resulting in income gains of over £99,000 and more than £118,000 of debt managed.

They have been able to support three times more clients and give out three times more fuel vouchers than the previous year. CAS&W have also carried out multiple outreaches and workshops; one such event in a local supermarket resulted in their energy team speaking to over 400 people in one day.

British Gas Energy Trust funds over 40 projects in Britain to provide money and energy advice within their communities. To find advice local to you, please click here.