29% of the UK population are concerned that they will have to go without gas or electricity for a period of time this winter
I’ll just say that shocking statistic again;
29% of the UK population are concerned that they will have to go without gas or electricity for a period of time this winter
I recently attended the Fuel pop-up up hosted by npower to highlight the issue and to raise awareness of their Fuel bank®initiative in partnership with The Trussell Trust, who run the UK’s network of 400 vitally important food banks.
The evening was hosted by writer and activist Jack Monroe, and was designed to highlight poverty in modern day Britain and the choices that are made by 13 million people who live below the poverty line. The choice between heating your home or heating your food.
Once in the restaurant the fans and air conditioning was running at full tilt to bring the room down to the outside temperature of an early winter evening. Having being divested of our coats we sat and gradually got more uncomfortable. The first course was bought, large plates each covered with a dome. We waited and lifted the domes to find 3 cans of food.
The surprise and shock was palatable. The silence lingered. There were one or two nervous laughs. No one knew what to do. I, and the others, was expecting a jolly evening of good food in comfortable surroundings. Here we were presented with a few cans and just left to get on with it.
Some of us got stuck in, cold soup with some corned beef eaten in a cold room was scant comfort, and we realised that if you are living in poverty, cannot afford fuel and have had help from the food bank this is dinner, not just for one day, but for the day after that, and the day after that.
After a while the cans were taken away, the heating switched on and a budget meal made from canned food was served.
Other guests on other days were given the choice between hot food, or a warm room. They were served and the temperature was turned down. As soon as anyone mentioned being cold their food was whisked away and the heating turned up again – do you heat or eat?
A few years ago now my central heating stopped working in November, and even though I still had hot water for a shower, electricity for a heater and gas to cook on it was still a pretty uncomfortable week or so whilst I organised a new boiler. Crucially I knew that an end was in sight; most people can put up with most things if they know there is an end date. I cannot imagine winter with no heat at all, no hot water, no hot food, no light, and no entertainment.
Fuel Crisis* The Facts
*unable to afford to top up their Pay As You Go meter
- 29% of the UK population believe they will have to go without gas or electricity for a period of time this winter
- 46% will reduce their heating use while some are prepared to forgo hot meals in order to save money on utility bills
- 25% of Brits will choose between heating their home or putting food on the table
- More than a third (35%) of adults will make fewer hot drinks every single day during winter
- A third (33%) of adults will reduce the number of times they wash clothes each week
npower launched their Fuel Bank in 2015 and have helped 70,000 people access over £1million’s worth of energy – food bank clients are given a fuel voucher alongside their food parcel, which enables them to top you their PAYG meter, and be warm, have a hot shower, wash their clothes and heat their food and to stop them from having to make the choice between heating and eating. Or in the summer lets them keep a fridge running so the food they have does not spoil.
To widen the reach of the scheme and to help more people npower has now set up the npower Foundation to help more people in fuel crisis access immediate support and to be able to heat and light their homes. All administration costs are paid by nPower so 100% of donations go directly to helping families in fuel crisis.
- Image from npower
How can you help?
Talk about both food and fuel poverty. Visit the npower foundation and donate. (npower will match the first £50,000 of public donations)
- £10 will cover fuel costs in an average home for around 3 days and will allow Foodbank clients to cook a food parcel from the Foodbank
- £30 provides enough fuel for an average family to light their homes, cook nourishing meals have hot baths for around two weeks over summer
- £49 is how much an average family will spend on fuel over two weeks in the winter
If you donate to a food bank please remember that some people won’t have the means to heat or cook, or even own a can opener. Treats and toiletries are both needed and appreciated.
Post sponsored by npower. All opinions our own.
Starlight and Stories
What a great initiative. It really is frightening to think of so many people being without access to heat.
Helen
It is terrible, and its not just heat but being able to warm your food too.
five little doves
I I donate to our local food bank each week via our local supermarket. It’s so important to help others.
Helen
Food banks are a vital part of helping out, to offer each week is a wonderful gesture.
Claire
Interesting article. I love the helping other people out with the food bank. Reminds me of Houston food bank, I used to volunteer there and after we were done with our shifts, they would tell us how many we were able to donate to people. It’s rewarding.
Helen
Food banks can mean the difference between someone eating or not, such a sad statistic that so many are now needed, but such an important resource.
Anosa
This is a great way for us to help and give back especially for those who are in need of it. This is definitely worth sharing, lets spread this and help our less fortunates.
Helen
Absolutely Anosa. It is awful to find out that such a big percentage of people will suffer this winter.
Linda Hobbis
wow – that’s a staggering statistic. Great that npower runs fuel bank, however, it seems to me that the utility industry as a whole has a lot to answer for when it comes to fuel poverty and the solution to the problem lies in passing on savings from wholesale fuel price drops and fairer and more flexible pricing.
Helen
I agree with you Linda that the price of fuel is shockingly high for all. The statistics are just awful.
Samantha
It’s sad to think that some people have to choose between heating their home or heating their food. I couldn’t imagine being in that situation. It’s great that companies like npower are doing what they can to help!
Helen
Just a horrible thought that some people have to make that choice. I really hope that this champaign raises a lot of awareness.
Louise
I wish I could afford to donate to a food bank this year, but sadly the kids and I walked out of our family home almost 6 weeks ago and we have pretty much nothing ourselves. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to help a family out, as I hate knowing that there are people struggling out there :(
Louise x
Helen
I do hope things get better for you Louise. I think that one of the key things about this campaign is to talk about it and raise awareness. xx
Becca Talbot
This is a brilliant scheme, which I knew nothing about! Though I was aware of fuel poverty, I had no idea how many it affected, so thanks for the education there – I have donated regularly to my local food bank, but not thought about the fact that the people that receive the goods will still need to heat the food in order to eat it. What a clever way for Fuel and npower to demonstrate the situation to you all! x
Helen
I always try and give things that will be OK to eat cold, the situation is just too dreadful.