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Applying to the British Gas Energy Trust for a grant

Step 1: Find the right support for you

Millions of households are not claiming the benefits they are entitled to.
The Bounce Back Checklist details the main benefits, schemes and organisations available for those struggling with money and energy debt.
The Better Off Calculator is a tool to help you better understand your income and outgoings, and to provide access to any support schemes you may be entitled too.
The Lightning Reach portal makes it easy for people to find and apply for a wide range of personalised support in one place, including over 2,500 support schemes incorporating grants, benefits, help with bills and other vital resources.

Step 2. Get specialist money and energy advice in your local community

We fund local charities and advice centres across England, Scotland and Wales that specialise in money and energy debt. These specialist services include help with budget planning, resolving energy debt issues, and support with maximising income. This is also a great next step as your local advice centre can help you understand whether to apply for grants, and how to do it. Speaking to a friendly voice can help relieve the pressure and give you reassurance that you can take back control of your finances.

Step 3. Apply for a grant

If you’ve sought advice and still need help to get back on your feet, you may be eligible for a British Gas Energy Trust grant.

Our Grants

The Individual and Families Fund

The fund is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter accounts.

Criteria that must be met:

We want to ensure that grants go to people who cannot access energy debt help from their own provider. Several suppliers have their own support fund which is restricted to their customers only. These are: OVO, Boost, Eon, Eon Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita. If you are a customer of one of these companies, please apply to them directly.

Please do not apply for our grants if you do not have energy debt, as your application will be rejected. If you are struggling financially, please visit the drop down menu from ‘money and energy advice’ for resources such as the Bounce back Checklist, Better Off Calculator or the Lightning Reach Financial Support Portal. Alternatively, check Money and Energy Advice to find a Trust funded project local to you.

 If you meet all the above criteria you may be eligible for a Trust grant, click here to apply for a grant.

 

British Gas Energy Support Fund

The Energy Support Fund is open to applications from British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter accounts.

Eligibility criteria:

 

Please note: The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charity, funded by British Gas. Please do not contact us concerning British Gas customer enquiries or complaints as we have no information on British Gas accounts. This includes billing queries and Warm Home Discount queries.  

Guidance for Money Advice services applying on behalf of, or supporting an application.

Please note that the British Gas Energy Trust is interested in funding applications where the applicant can show a sustainable position moving forward. We believe that it is rarely in the person’s best interest to seek a debt write-off, without dealing with the underlying problem of a deficit budget, due to this deficit budget’s will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, there is some allowance for marginal exceptions.

Please note where client’s would be eligible for a Bankruptcy or DRO, we expect this to have been explained to the client. Clients who are eligible for a DRO may not be successful in their application, as there is an alternative route to managing their debt.

The Trust expects that the money advice service who has supported the applicant, has ensured that all advice given and action taken by their agents or appointed representatives a) has regard to the best interests of the applicant b) is appropriate to the individual circumstances of the applicant c) is based on a sufficiently full assessment of the financial circumstances of the applicant.1

1 8.3.2 Consumer Credit Sourcebook, Financial Conduct Authority