The 27th of November 2024 is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day. The energy crisis has continued for over three years and there are now over 6 million UK households in Fuel Poverty. Fuel Poverty Awareness Day highlights the experiences of people living in cold homes and highlights the solutions to solving this national crisis.
Fuel Poverty is a term used to identify households that may be experiencing difficulty managing their energy bills or keeping their homes warm.
Most people would be unlikely to identify themselves as being in fuel poverty, they’re more likely to think or say:
- I worried about my gas bill/I can’t top up my meter
- I can’t afford to turn on the heating today
- My home is always damp or cold
- I’m always ill
The causes for these issues can be complex, however, we find these are usually attributed to:
- Low income
- High fuel costs
- Energy inefficient homes
Managing your energy use at home
There are lots of things you can do to help keep your home warm this winter.
Are you receiving all the income you’re entitled to? Take a look at the Fife Benefit Checker.
If you’ve not already now is the time to apply for the Warm Home Discount! This is a £150 rebate you can claim from your energy supplier. You should get applications in as soon as possible.
If you’re worried about keeping your home warm this winter, take a look at our range of energy advice guides to see what changes you can make to how you use energy at home.
Participant Stories
Our energy advisors provide support to help people through Fuel Poverty, take a look at some of the stories below to see how we’ve helped people in your community to live in warmer, safer homes.
Help Fuel Fife Folk
Greener Kirkcaldy and St Andrews Environmental Network are appealing for your donations to help support those in need to stay warm over the winter. Your donations will be used to provide vital measures including low-energy electric over-blankets, warm thermal curtains and reflective radiator panels.
Any donation, large or small will help. You can donate here.
Training for Frontline Workers
Our Fuel Poverty and Energy advice skills training is a 2.5-hour training workshop that we can deliver to frontline staff and volunteers of agencies in Fife who may come into contact with those who are experiencing or at risk of Fuel Poverty.
You can find more about this training here.
Volunteer your time to help tackle Fuel Poverty
Are you interested in supporting those in your community facing or at risk of Fuel Poverty? We’re recruiting energy champions to help spread the word about how Cosy Kingdom can help. Get in touch with the Cosy Kingdom partner in your area for more information.
Volunteer with Greener Kirkcaldy (Levenmouth, Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, South West Fife)
Volunteer with St Andrews Environmental Network (Glenrothes, North East Fife)
Free and Impartial advice from Cosy Kingdom
Cosy Kingdom is a free and impartial energy advice service available to anyone living in Fife.
We can advise and support on a range of issues such as billing and supplier issues, gas and electricity debt, as well as advice on keeping on top of energy use.
We support thousands of Fifers each year to stay safe and warm and at home.
You can arrange a chat with one of our energy advisors by getting in touch using the contact details below.
Our energy advisors can be contacted by:
- Calling 01592 807930 between 10AM and 3PM Monday to Friday
- Texting COSY then YOUR NAME to 88440
- Emailing info@cosykingdom.org.uk
- Request advice online