New partnerships aim to create warmer communities this winter
Repowering London and CREW Energy have launched new partnerships with SGN, the regional gas distribution network, to fight fuel poverty in South London. At a recent launch event in Clapham, community stakeholders and representatives of the partner organisations came together. They talked about ideas and opportunities for working together to best support residents not only now, but as we head into the next winter.
The scale of the struggle
Though energy prices have come down since their peak in early 2023, National Energy Action (NEA) figures from October 2023 show that there are still 6.5 million UK households living in fuel poverty. Thanks to the new partnerships, thousands of residents in South London will receive a combination of energy advice, energy efficiency home visits, emergency fuel vouchers, and carbon monoxide detectors to help them stay safe and warm at home.
Repowering London and CREW Energy will also provide training for frontline workers to help them better identify and support people who are struggling with their energy bills. They will also work to identify people eligible for energy efficiency schemes and help eligible customers sign up to the Priority Services Register.
Building long-term solutions
Afsheen Kabir Rashid, CEO of Repowering London, welcomed the partnership, saying: “This partnership with SGN will enable us to support Lambeth residents who are struggling with their energy costs today, while building community capacity for longer-term solutions – to ultimately provide lower-cost energy, create warmer and healthier homes, reduce urban health deficits and end fuel poverty.”
Kerry Potter, Group Social Impact and Vulnerability Manager from SGN, explained why it is involved: “We’re committed to keeping our communities safe and warm and by working in a joined-up way with CREW Energy and Repowering London. We’re able to tap into their community expertise to reach those who are really struggling and provide much needed energy safeguarding support, not just for today but for the long term. Through building strong connections, we can help vulnerable households get much needed help.”
If you are an organisation that believes that your frontline team could benefit from energy support training, please get in touch with rachel.brain@repowering.org.uk
