Support available to stay warm and well this winter – and save on energy bills

Wednesday 26 November is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.

An increasing amount of people are struggling to afford the cost of heating and falling into debt or living in cold homes that will negatively impact their physical and mental health. 

Latest data showed that 12% of households in Brighton & Hove were experiencing fuel poverty, representing around 15,500 households.

Established by National Energy Action, Fuel Poverty Awareness Day is a time to spread the message that everyone should be able to afford to live in a warm, safe and healthy home.

Keeping your home warm over the winter months can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression, especially if you are older, or have a medical condition.

It’s important for your health to heat the rooms you spend most time in, such as the living room or bedroom, to at least 18°C if you can. It's also best to keep your bedroom windows closed at night.

In Brighton & Hove, help and advice is available for residents living in cold homes and facing rising energy bills.

Energyworks

Energyworks is a partnership service between Citizens Advice Brighton & Hove and Brighton & Hove Energy Services Cooperative, providing energy advice to Brighton & Hove residents experiencing fuel poverty.

It can provide advice by appointment, via telephone or in person.

It can also help you to:

• Understand energy bills and metering
• Contact and negotiate with suppliers
• Find the best energy tariff
• Improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs
• Keep homes warm and dry
• Access financial and material support for energy costs and other cost-of-living
• Access schemes for home-improvements
• Onward referrals and signposting to other specialist services such as debt advice

Energyworks has fuel vouchers available for low-income households in Brighton & Hove who pay for their energy via a prepayment/key meter.

To seek energy advice, please contact then via one of the following channels:

• Fill out the online enquiry form
• Call the Energyworks voicemail service on 0333 090 9150 and leave a message
• Or come to an in-person advice drop-in on Thursdays at 1.15pm at Tisbury Road Offices, Hove Town Hall, Tisbury Road, Hove BN3 3BQ

Energy and food support for older people

Extra support is available this year if you’re aged 66 or over and struggling to pay your energy bills or need help with costs of food and essentials.

The council’s Community Hub team can help with:

• checking if you’re eligible to top up your pension with Pension Credit and support you in making an application
• energy costs if you’re struggling to keep warm or afford your bills
• costs of food and other essentials
• making referrals to LEAP, Energyworks and money advice services
• liaising with utility companies about your debt
• providing free Carbon Monoxide alarms and arranging home safety visits
• checking eligibility to join the priority services registers (energy and water)
• energy advice on keeping warm in an affordable way  

If you need extra support this winter, visit our request help and support page or call our Community Hub helpline on 01273 293117 (option 2).

The Community Hub helpline is open from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The Age UK webpages also provide lots of information that can help you look after your finances and your health. You can also call 0800 169 6565 and quote ‘Winter’ for advice and support.

Help and advice

Councillor Mitchie Alexander, Cabinet member for Communities, Equalities and Adult Social Care, said: “Winter is an extremely difficult time for many residents, especially those living in poorly insulated homes, which is sadly far too commonplace in our city.

“Dropping temperatures, cold homes and the stress of rising energy costs can have a lasting effect on everyone’s physical and mental health, not just those who are vulnerable.

“Energyworks has already helped lots of people in Brighton & Hove to reduce their energy bills and the service is completely free. We would encourage anyone who is struggling to heat their home to contact them or go to their in-person drop-in.

“We have also set up extra support for older people again this winter with our Brighton & Hove Fuel Payment. If you’re concerned about your energy bills, or need support with costs of food and other essentials, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Community Hub team.”

Further support with the cost of living and keeping warm and well

You can find information on help and support available on our support with the cost of living web pages and the government’s Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather and Help for households webpages.

Our support with the cost of living pages include emergency help and money advice, information on eligibility for discounts on energy bills, and advice and tips and about saving energy, keeping your home warm and staying safe in the cold.

For more useful tips and information about saving energy and money, explore the Energy Saving Trust and Money Saving Expert websites.

Staying healthy

Getting your vaccinations as soon as possible, including flu and Covid-19 vaccines, is an important way to keep yourself healthy winter and protect your family.

The NHS offers free vaccines to those who are eligible. The flu vaccine is available for:

• Adults aged 65 and over
• People with certain long-term health conditions
• Care home residents and carers and those living with someone with a weakened immune system

This year, people aged 75 and over and those who are immunosuppressed will also be able to get their free Covid-19 vaccine.

Book online via the NHS website or through the NHS App.