With the help of City of Lincoln Council, Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey have partnered with Cadent Gas to deliver vital energy outreach sessions in warm hubs across Lincoln.
Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey currently hold weekly energy efficiency advice sessions across 14 venues covering both central and wider Lincoln areas, with plans to expand in January 2025.
The sessions provide crucial support to the community, especially in the face of rising energy costs and the recent reduction in automatic Winter Fuel Payments.
The energy outreach sessions are designed to equip residents with practical advice, covering:
- Guidance on energy efficiency to help reduce bills
- Carbon monoxide safety education, with alarms provided to attendees
- Cooking lessons using slow cookers, with free slow cookers given to participants, highlighting the energy-saving benefits of slow-cooking
- Raising awareness of the Priority Service Register (PSR) and assisting families in signing up
- Income maximisation advice, including help with benefit applications and financial services
Two dedicated energy advisers from Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey visit each warm hub venue, bringing literature, roller banners, carbon monoxide alarms, meter keys, and more.
They engage directly with residents who visit the hubs for warmth, companionship, and activities, or to lower their own home energy bills. By building relationships with these visitors, the charity is making a significant impact on the community, benefitting those who need it most.
As part of the project, Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey is working with GoGro, a not-for-profit community interest company who offer cooking classes in Lincoln, to host 16 Slow Cooker Cooking Courses annually.
These courses not only teach residents how to cook efficiently using slow cookers but also provide attendees with a free slow cooker.
The slow cooker courses are a great way to educate the community about energy-efficiency and offer a practical solution for households to reduce their energy usage.
While the project focuses on energy efficiency, the advisers can provide a wide range of support on top of help with energy costs, including access to available benefits, debt management, the Priority Services Register, carbon monoxide safety, and income maximisation.
In addition to referring clients to Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey’s available services, the advisers can also offer immediate assistance and ongoing one-to-one support in the charity’s Lincoln office outside of the outreach sessions, which is particularly helpful for those needing more guidance with form-filling, telephone calls, or more complex issues.
The charity has advisers based in various venues across the city, eliminating the need for clients to call the Advice Line or travel into the city centre for support, making it easier for those with mobility or financial challenges to access the help they need.
Cllr Sue Burke, Portfolio Holder for Reducing Inequality, said:
“With the ongoing cost of living challenge, initiatives like these are essential. As a council, we are committed to helping residents with issues such as rising energy costs and helping pensioners get access to Winter Fuel Payments.
“By supporting Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey in delivering this vital service, we are ensuring our residents have access to practical solutions and financial advice that can make a significant difference.
“This project is an excellent example of how we can come together as a community to tackle financial challenges head-on, providing support where it’s needed most.”
For more information on the energy outreach sessions and to find your nearest warm hub, please visit the City of Lincoln Council website or contact Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey directly. You can also keep up to date with Citizens Advice Lincoln & Lindsey’s energy outreach sessions via their Facebook page.