industry news The Community Action Partnership (CAP)
The Community Action Partnership (CAP) is a joint initiative between British Gas and fuel poverty charity, National Energy Action. Over the past two years, the partnership has helped housing and community groups spot and help people struggling with energy bills.
Here Christine Tate, head of corporate responsibility at British Gas, talks about best practice for housing professionals so they can help residents have a warm and working home
of questions that you can ask to see if they extra support. For example: • They may tell you they are worried they are about to get cut off
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• They may make comments such as, “my house is damp” or “I always feel ill”
• They may only let you into one room, i.e. the room they are heating
• The curtains may be closed during the day to keep heat in
• Appliances do not appear to be working or are not plugged in
• Food items may be left on a window sill, rather than in the fridge, to keep cool
“All energy suppliers have a responsibility to work with their customers to find a solution for those struggling with their bills”
At British Gas we know that if people are in arrears with their energy provider, they are usually behind with other bills. That’s why we work with Step Change Debt Charity, which helps people who are having difficulties paying their bills and need advice on how to manage their finances. So far, this has resulted in more than 7,000 referrals to the charity. It’s important to encourage residents to talk to
their energy supplier if they are struggling in the first place to see whether they can help. All energy suppliers have a responsibility to work with their customers to find a solution for those
he first step is to identify who needs help. Housing management teams are well placed to do this, and there are a number
struggling with their bills. We take this responsibility seriously. We contact customers as soon as we see any signs of payment difficulty and so we can help with budgeting and payment plans. Support is also available from organisations such
as the British Gas Energy Trust, an independent charity that exists to help people struggling with bills to clear their debts through grants and financial advice, regardless of whether or not they are a British Gas customer.
What can housing professionals do to help?
We know that showing people how to use energy more efficiently can help, for example, by turning the lights off in an empty room or only wash clothes when there’s a full load. Changing people’s
behaviour in the home is often the most effective way to help a household manage their energy bills. People can make changes to their home to
make it warmer and more efficient. This includes using insulation strips on windows and doors, fitting covers to the keyholes and letterbox and using underlay with carpets. There’s also a range of financial support
available to help eligible households maximise their income and manage bills. Housing professionals should encourage
residents to check they’re claiming all the welfare and other benefits they are entitled to, such as the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation, through which eligible households can receive a more efficient, free replacement boiler.
Making an impact
The housing sector plays a pivotal role in improving housing standards and reducing fuel poverty, no one organisation has either all the answers, or the resources, to tackle it single-handedly. Over many years we’ve learnt that the most
effective way to reduce fuel poverty is by working in partnership with a range of organisations – from energy suppliers and charities to local authorities and housing management teams. By working together, we can make a real and
far-reaching impact, and we hope that schemes like CAP will play a key part in alleviating fuel poverty for good. For more information on the Community Action
Partnership visit:
ww.nea.org.uk/see-us-in- action/community-action-partnership
20 | HMM March 2016 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
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