Energy Credits Drive – making a difference

Written by Lauren Watson, Community Development Project Manager

As we navigate through a cost of living crisis, rising prices and the impact of inflation has impacted us all and can be a source of stress and financial strain. Many east London and Islington households had low or zero savings going into the pandemic and are facing difficult decisions about how to allocate their already limited resources paying for essential utilities like energy. That’s why ELBA and BIG are proud to be working with Linklaters to explore how we can help with energy poverty for those in most need.

With Linklaters’ gracious donation of £20,000, we have been able to establish our Energy Credits Drive (in its pilot stages) in partnership with community partners.

ELBA is responding to the Cost of Living crisis and one key element identified is the support needed to meet increasing costs of energy bills. To aid this ELBA is fundraising to help local people manage and, with your help, we can support more people.

Currently, ELBA has worked and consulted with a range of east London and Islington-based community partners and their frontline staff to better understand the circumstances and needs of their service users.

We heard of families not going home after school, but instead going to libraries and warm hubs in the evening so they can delay switching on the heating at home. We have also been told of people turning up at community centres with bags of unopened utility bills that they are too scared to open as they already know they have no money to pay.

Community partners have identified mechanisms and implemented logistics to deliver effective and collaborative support – assisted in-person and online top-ups, clearing arrear payments, etc.

One of our community partners commented: ‘It’s great that we are able to have the flexibility and freedom that is needed to truly help our service users.’ ELBA is taking lead from community organisations we are working closely with to identify the most suitable methodologies when it comes to donating funds to families in need.

ELBA and BIG ensure that, through community partners, 100% of donations reach a family or individual in need. The support needed is greater than ever and ELBA is looking for supporters to match fund donations made by Linklaters. If you would like to make a donation to the Energy Credits Drive and support a family in need, please donate here.

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