Energy Advocates
If you are struggling to pay your bills, navigate the complex world of home energy, or just need somebody to have your back: our Energy Advocates are here for you.
Grace
Gloucestershire
Sharon
Gloucestershire
Ahmad
Gloucestershire
Jeff Badham
Gloucestershire
Becca
Gloucestershire
Mike
South Gloucestershire
Shelly
Gloucestershire
Meet our advocates.
Our Energy Advocates, work across the county to make sure that nobody in Gloucestershire or South Gloucestershire is struggling to pay their energy bills without somebody in their corner to help.
Based in the community, they hold regular drop-ins, works with local support services and pops up at community events to help residents overcome the challenges of heating their homes affordably.
What is an advocate, anyway?
Sometimes the best way of getting on top of your energy bills is to have someone in your corner, helping you to find a way forward.
We’ve all faced mountains in the past. Couch to 5k, Dry January, opening that savings account. Sometimes, the best way of making progress is to have someone standing alongside you, motivating you, giving you friendly advice and, sometimes, doing the hard work for you when it becomes overwhelming.
Getting on top of your home energy can be like that. Where do you start? Who do you talk to? Is it just me that feels anxious about this? That is where an Energy Advocate can help.
Whether it’s showing you how that supposedly programmable thermostat works, or getting on the phone to the energy company when you’re getting behind with payments – Our advocates will be by your side to make sure you feel in control.
What help can I get?
- managing fuel debt and large energy bills
- switching tariffs and negotiating the best deal
- accessing emergency credit and grant funding for efficiency improvements
- home visits to understand how you use energy at home, and how to reduce it
- access to further local support services where necessary
Gloucestershire
Across Gloucestershire, our Energy Advocates are working with local inclusion services to make sure everybody receives energy advice they can understand. Our Energy Advocates work alongside teams from Inclusion Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) and Barnados to help you figure out your home energy and get your bills under control.
Our advocates reach out to residents via drop-in sessions, home visits and surgeries all around the county (Covid restrictions permitting), and will work with you closely to help you stay warm and healthy and avoid falling into debt with your energy company. If you would like advice on tariff switching, fuel debt, grants for energy saving improvements or general energy advice please get in touch. This service is fully funded by the Energy Saving Trust.
South Gloucestershire
In South Gloucestershire we have partnered with Sirona Care and Health so that our Energy Advocate can assist clients within the Active Ageing service. Their service users are particularly at risk of the negative effects of a cold home on health such as; reduced mobility, respiratory conditions, worsening cardiovascular issues, and long-term health conditions. Our advocate is already making big changes to peoples energy welfare, whether through a tariff switch saving £450 a year or an energy debt write-off of £1700. This service is fully-funded by the Energy Saving Trust.
If you would like to make an appointment for an existing issue or can see a large bill coming that you cannot afford to pay, please contact our energy advocate in Gloucestershire via advocate@severnwye.org.uk and in South Gloucestershire mikee@severnwye.org.uk, with the nature of your issue. They can help talk you through the best course of action.