Energy Bills:

For help through Charis Grants who can help you navigate which energy providers have open schemes where help could be available contact: https://charisgrants.com/individuals/#schemes-open

Alternatively, you can contact the providers below:

• E.ON Energy – E.ON customers have now become customers of E.ON Next.  All new applications should be made through the E.ON Next Energy Fund. If you require further assistance, please see below for support through E.ON Next.
• EDF Energy – visit edfenergy.com/for-home/help-support/help-centre or call 0333 009 6992
• E.ON Next – visit www.eonnext.com/help or call 0808 501 5200 or email hi@eonnext.com
• Scottish Power – visit scottishpower.co.uk/getintouch or call 0800 027 0072
• British Gas – visit britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/ or call 0333 202 9802
• SSE – Visit sse.co.uk/help/online-services or call 0345 070 7373
• OVO – visit https://help.ovoenergy.com/or call 0330 303 5063
• Utilita – Visit https://utilita.co.uk/help

Alternatively, you can get free advice from the organisations below: 

Citizens Advice – www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
StepChange Debt Charity – Freephone 0800 138 1111 or www.stepchange.org/contact-us.aspx
Turn2Us National Charity – www.turn2us.org.uk/Support-Us
National Debt Line – Freephone 0808 808 4000 or nationaldebtline.co.uk
Advice UK – Freephone 0300 777 0107 or adviceuk.org.uk
Payplan – Freephone 0800 280 2816 or payplan.co.uk

If you have any problems and need help working through the system, Charis may be able to help you directly: https://charisgrants.com/individuals/  - check eligibility.

Checking Benefit Entitlement, this guid will help you ascertain whether you may be eligible for extra help, and help in claiming: https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Beginner-s-Guide-to-Benefits/Checking-benefit-entitlement

The Turn2Us benefit calculator is a great and easy tool to use: https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

Winter Fuel Payment - If you were born on or before September 25th, 1957 you could get between £250 & £600 to help you pay your heating bills. You will get this automatically if you are eligble - to check eligibility check here.The amount you'll get includes a Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, which is between £150 & £300 - this is only available in Winter 2022/2023. This is in addition to any Cost of Living Payment you get with your benefit or tax credits.

LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) is a free home visit scheme to assist residents in Dorset with free energy advice, energy saving devices along to access to other improvements like heating upgrades, insulation, free appliances and replacement boilers.  To check eligibility ands apply: https://www.ridgewaterenergy.co.uk/projects-and-services/leap/

Citizens Advice Dorset can help with a number of areas and you can contact them directly.  Alternatively, if you are a Pantry Member we can make a referral for you - conbtact us directly if you need a referral.

To contact them directly: Call 0800 144 8848 - this is a freephone number.

They can help with:

• Welfare
• Housing
• Employment
• Food Insecurity - but if you are in North Dorset, contact us at The Vale Pantry. Outside of this area check out: https://www.helpandkindness.co.uk/food-projects   
• Immigration
• Health Conditions
• Debt & Money
• Energy and Fuel Poverty
• Family

The Household Support Grant may provide you with £200 of shopping/food vouchers if you are eligible, residents in the Dorset Council area can apply if you have:

• An annual household income of less than £30,000 - and
• Savings of less than £16,000

Email hsf@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk 

Tel: 01305 221000

The Friends of Stour Connect will be running a Warm Room - which has available: Accessible Toilets, Assistance Dogs Welcome, Child Friendly, Dementia Friendly, Food, Free WIFI, Parking closeby, Wheelchair accessible - opening times: Monday - Friday mornings.  The only requirement is that you purchase one hot drink and you can stay all morning.