This Volunteers’ Week, our Head of Fundraising and Partnership, Jen Carruthers Jones reflects on the incredible support from our corporate volunteers that has meant that National Energy Action could get our Winter Warmth Support Packs out to thousands of households.  

Last winter was incredibly tough for millions of people struggling to keep warm, safe and healthy in their homes. Our supporters and donors rose to the challenge, and we received phenomenal support for our Winter Warmth Support Pack campaign.  

As bills spiralled amid the energy crisis, we knew that many of our clients would struggle to put the heating on even after taking steps to manage their energy use and claim the support available to them. So, in addition to offering advice and financial support, we decided to create packs to give essential household items to those most in need.  

The packs included: 

• Thermometer cards 
• Blankets 
• Vacuum flasks 
• LED lightbulbs 
• Draughtproofing strips 
• Radiator reflector panels 
• Packets of soup 
• Hot chocolate sachets 

Through public donations and corporate support, we secured funding to provide more Winter Warmth Support Packs than ever before. However, it would take an army of volunteers to ensure that we could get the packs out to vulnerable households who needed help.  

Everyone at National Energy Action – me included – would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers, who gave up their time to come to our North East warehouse to help. Last year, we had volunteers from Virgin Money, Baker Hughes, Switchee, Northern Powergrid, National Grid, Siemens Energy, E.ON Energy and Zenergi. 

The clients who received the packs were hugely thankful. One said, ‘It has helped me incredibly. The warm hoodie blanket especially has helped me keep warm at night. For someone who can’t move as much due to health, this has honestly been a lifesaver. Thank you for all the hard work you do and for all the help you have provided me last year. I truly appreciate the time and patience.’ 

We’re always grateful for the fantastic work that we’re able to do through our partnerships, and this is a particularly tangible demonstration of how the work we do can really change the lives of households in fuel poverty.  

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Blog: ‘I’m very proud to be a small part of an organisation that supports women to thrive’

Danni Barnes, Director of Development and Partnerships at National Energy Action, and member of the Senior Management Team, explains why International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to empowerment, equality, and inclusion

Today is International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate the achievements of women everywhere and to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable future. 

For me, this day holds special significance as a senior manager in a national charity, which thankfully prioritises flexibility and gender equality. 

I’m very proud to be a small part of an organisation that supports women to thrive, and working alongside a team of exceptional women who build each other up and offer support to others, each and every day. 

While studying law, I discovered my passion for making a positive difference in people’s lives through volunteering at a local advice charity. This experience inspired me to pursue a career at a national charity, where I could continue to contribute to meaningful change on a larger scale.

It remains the case that women in a household typically shoulder more of the caring responsibilities, so flexibility enables them to thrive both at home and in work. 

We must offer flexibility to all employees

We must afford men similar flexibility so they can offer equal support. Despite a lot of progress, it’s still often mothers who are perceived as the default parents – the ones who can drop everything to look after a sick child, be available for school holidays and so on. Offering flexibility to all employees recognises that it doesn’t have to be this way.

If I could ask for one thing this International Women’s Day, it would be for organisations to prioritise initiatives that promote gender equality, support women’s empowerment and offer leadership development opportunities. Policies promoting work-life balance are essential steps towards a more equitable future. 

More diversity across leadership is essential. True inclusivity goes beyond gender representation but includes living experiences of socioeconomic issues and systemic barriers faced by many diverse communities across the UK.

Inclusivity and diversity pave the way for a richer understanding of how we solve some of the challenges facing our society and we must embrace them wholeheartedly.

On International Women’s Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to empowerment, equality, and inclusion. Together, we can continue to challenge barriers, uplift voices, and create a world where every woman has the opportunity to thrive.

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Our Advisers are dedicated to helping people who are unable to afford to live in a warm, safe and healthy home. Our expert team offer energy and benefits advice, can offer hardship funding and help householders improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

We help clients manage fuel debt and stop them from living in a miserable cycle of fuel poverty.

We often receive lovely feedback from clients who are so grateful to receive our help.

If you need support, find out more about how our Warm and Safe Homes advice service could help.

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National Energy Action (NEA) have been working with the European Climate Foundation (ECF) to develop a repository of case studies. These demonstrate fuel poor households having successfully worked towards decarbonised heat. They show the importance of decarbonisation for fuel poor, low-income and vulnerable households. Decarbonisation will require households to reduce their energy demand. Improved energy efficiency provides protection when energy prices sharply increase. It is therefore needed to mitigate against climate risk for fuel poor households.

We have used these case studies to develop constituency-level briefings for MPs. These highlight the benefits of a fair and affordable transition to net zero. We will also use them as a tool to publicise these positive outcomes. This will counter negative messaging regarding the impacts of low-carbon heating on fuel poor households. Case studies will inform a coordinated outreach programme. This programme will include MP and journalist visits to sites with positive outcomes. The repository will enable policymakers and the media to highlight community-led and local initiatives.

Hartlepower grant provides warm home with environmental benefits

Melin Homes infrared heating system generates 40 – 50% savings, with positive health outcomes

Passive House saves resident £50 per month

https://www.nea.org.uk/wp-admin/post.php?post=28300&action=edit

Heat pump grant provides off-gas grid rural home with huge health benefits

Leanne Shipley  

Mr Martin and Mrs Martin 

Heating upgrade and loft insulation reduces household’s energy use dramatically

Mr Martin and Mrs Martin 

SHDF funding ‘breaks even’ based on cost savings

John Wort – Case study 

SHDF-funded upgrades a positive experience

Hilda Stevens – Case study 

Cardiff University retrofit project provides family with considerable health benefits and energy savings

Cardiff University – Case study 

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affordability fundraise running water water poverty

Water is unquestionably essential to all aspects of life, and so it is vitally important that all households are supported to ensure they have access to safe, clean and affordable water – something which the United Nations recognise as a human right. Although access issues to safe and clean water are rare in the UK, unfortunately, affordability issues are not.

The longer-term financial impacts of the Covid-19 crisis are now starting to be realised. In a relatively short space of time, households previously managing their finances now find themselves in a wilderness of debt, struggling and spiralling deeper and deeper into difficulty. Finances have been hit hard and hit quickly, and no-one knows when their situation might improve.

Since March 2019, NEA has been working to raise awareness of water poverty in the UK, seeking to align the policy and practical action required to support water poor households, with the goal of eradication by 2030. Our work programme is built on four key pillars:

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