Service at the moment includes :
3-way phone call negotiations with energy companies and customers –eg. billing issues & payment plans
Phone /video-call support & advice as appropriate around energy usage and capital grant funding
Home Visits – Home visiting allows us to install energy-saving measures, take meter reads, check bills, discuss tariffs, and pick up on issues that might go unnoticed in a telephone call.
Postal delivery – info leaflets, small measures (LED bulbs, insulation tape thermometers etc)
Crisis fund - for top ups (please do not advertise or discuss publicly), warming devices, other costs where people are desperate (some verification by referral agent or other advocate may be required)
Signposting/referral for loft & cavity-wall insulation (c£300-1000 per home)
signposting for emergency central heating – getting broken systems fixed/replaced (c£1800-2500 per home) and installing new first time central heating (upto £6k per home with new gas connection and new boiler, rads, pipework, controls etc)
Training for staff and front-line workers over zoom or Teams. This can be 5-15 min quick catch up on a team meeting, or a more formal 30 min -1 hour training session to suit need.
More acute support is available to food-bank clients though our Fuel for Food programme (PH-funded) – can include debt pay-offs, prepayment meter vouchers, microwaves & slow-cookers, blankets & heaters. See the flier attached.
The advice service is open to the general public, or staff can make referrals. You can do this by telephone if you prefer, via Warmer Derby & Derbyshire on 0800 677 1332, or email wdd@mea.org.uk.