Citizens Advice Manchester

Supported by funding from Electricity North West during the autumn of 2021, Citizens Advice Manchester (CAM) attended sessions at TBBT hubs across Greater Manchester, in order to reach some of the region's most vulnerable residents and offer support with their energy issues and questions.

In the autumn, the team visited 23 hubs. During these visits they helped 19 people apply for their Warm Homes Discount and registered 137 people on the Priority Service Register (for additional support if there is a power cut). They also shared energy efficiency tips worth an average of £150 to 370 members - £55,500 saved in total when implemented.

“By visiting TBBT hubs, we are able to reach groups of people who might not have known about CAM before, support them with energy queries, and direct them to the best support for other issues beyond this. Approaching TBBT members at the hubs improves our ability to open up conversations and enables us to make a real difference to people's lives.

“Our main aim is to promote what support is out there in terms of energy. We also advise members about basic energy efficiencies for them to easily implement, offer reassurance with the current energy crisis and advise on what they could do if their supplier went bust. We helped apply for the Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register there and then in the queue meaning that members get instant support or, if they didn't have the appropriate information to hand, we would refer them to our energy advice team for support. Some people mentioned that they struggled with a broken white goods item so we put them in touch with support in applying for a charitable grant to provide a new item. Finally, we explain the support CAM offers as a whole e.g. Debt, Housing and Welfare Benefit advice, and the most appropriate way for them to connect with that service if relevant.  

For example, a pregnant woman attended a hub with her mum; we struck up a conversation and mentioned the Warm Homes Discount. She had tried applying for it the previous year, but missed out so, as she could access her account information via app on her phone, we helped her to make the application there and then so she wouldn't miss out again. We also got her registered for the Priority Services Register as she already had a child under 5 and her mum stores her medication in the fridge. We also talked them through some simple energy efficiencies to help reduce their bills long-term. Finally, we explained about the Healthy Start Vouchers she would be entitled to and that TBBT takes them as payments towards the weekly food service, to help them cut costs in other areas.”