A community charity based in East London has restarted a series of drop-in energy clinics after a surge in demand for their services.

The Bromley by Bow Centre is part-funded by British Gas Energy Trust and supports people with a wide variety of integrated services based on their individual needs.

The charity previously delivered the sessions prior to the coronavirus pandemic but have decided to reinstate the three-hour weekly sessions to try and reduce the waiting times for clients seeking one-off advice or support with general issues.

On average, the team supports 12-15 clients per session, which operate on a first-come, first-served basis with three members of staff and one volunteer in attendance. Clients start to queue up from 8.30am, before the team start to triage clients to determine whether the client can be supported in the drop-in session. If the people presenting have more complex cases, they are offered a full appointment.

Each client is allocated around 45 minutes with a team member, who can offer help with things like energy health checks, understanding bills, liaising with energy companies, applying for fuel vouchers or white goods and general energy efficiency advice.

Tahmina Begum, Delivery Manager at Bromley by Bow Centre, said: “We noticed that our appointment waiting list was increasing with clients needing generalist advice and support or needing very basic information. These clients were able to attend the drop-in sessions which reduced our waiting list.

“We have seen an increase in the number of clients attending the drop-in session for fuel vouchers only. This is because the availability of fuel vouchers has been circulated widely by clients who have received the vouchers to their friends and neighbours. However, in line with our holistic and integrated support, even though clients attend for fuel vouchers only, they are enabled to access the wealth of other services we provide, resulting in better outcomes both financially and in terms of health, wellbeing and quality of life.”

The drop-ins are helping people like Brian*, a 64-year-old man who initially visited for support with fuel vouchers and his prepayment meters. Brian has several health issues, uses a wheelchair and is living alone in a one-bedroomed social housing property.

He was not able to cook food properly since his gas cooker broke four years ago and has since been reliant on a grill and a microwave for meals. As well as the team supporting him with access to almost £150 worth of fuel vouchers, the team also made a successful application to the British Gas Energy Trust’s Extra Assistance scheme for a gas cooker.

On receiving the support, an overwhelmed Brian said: “I finally received the support which I did not get before, thank god for the funding by British Gas Energy Trust which allowed for me to receive the gas cooker, I can cooked healthy home cooked meals at last – thank you!”

*name changed to protect identity

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