How to get help from new £90,000 project if you're facing fuel poverty this winter

Citizens Advice services in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Sunderland have received a financial grant from the British Gas Energy Trust.

It will be used to create Money Matters North East, a project that aims to increase capacity and help more clients across the three areas.

The support is aimed at people who were just about managing before lockdown, but who are now finding themselves falling into debt.

Specialist support will include initial checks for benefits they may be entitled to, help to complete forms and support with online applications for Universal Credit.

Citizens Advice Hartlepool manager Joe Michna said: “This is a great boost to our service and increases our capacity to give local people advice on energy related matters as well as welfare benefits.

"Giving energy advice, particularly in the current Covid-19 period has become a very important part of our work."

Denise Irving, CEO for Citizens Advice Sunderland said coronavirus has made life harder for people who were already struggling and many, who have never used government support, now rely on it to feed their families.

"We are proud to be working alongside Citizens Advice Hartlepool and Citizens Advice Middlesbrough to help people in our communities to resolve the issues they face,” she said.

“With the support of the British Gas Energy Trust, this partnership will make a huge difference to people’s lives.”

The three advice bureaus are one of nine regional energy and money consumer advice charities to benefit from British Gas Energy Trust’s £750,000 Covid Response Fund.

Helen Charlton, Chair of the Trust said: “It’s been crucial to ensure frontline money and energy advice organisations receive additional funding to support their work this autumn, as the longer-term effects of the pandemic, and winter fuel costs, begin to take hold.”

Citizens Advice Hartlepool is offering drop-in sessions every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am-3pm.

Clients attending must wear face masks and use hand sanitiser.

To access support call Sunderland on 0300 330 1194, Hartlepool on 0300 330 9005, or Middlesbrough at: (01642) 802282.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here.

Thank you.