Fuel Poverty and Pre-Payment Meters Help is available in Bradford District

IS TOPPING UP TIPPING YOU OVER THE FINANCIAL EDGE?

Are Pre-Payment meters taking the energy out of your life?

Help recover your balance

As the Prime Minister pledges to cut energy bills and introduces his four point plan, many people will still struggle to pay their fuel bills this winter. Lots of people will find themselves in fuel debt and could be forced to have a Pre-Payment meter installed. Letters will be sent to millions of households informing them of the Government’s four point plan, including information about cheaper tariffs, free insulation and changing billing methods. Local advisors welcome these initiatives but fear they will have little impact on those using Pre-Payment meters.

People paying for their energy using a Pre-Payment meter don’t have many options to shop around for cheaper tariffs or to swop their energy supplier. However the national watchdog, Consumer Focus, has agreed ‘5 Key Principles’ with the ‘big 6’ energy suppliers to improve the way Pre-Payment meters work.

These ‘5 Key Principles’ should offer more protection for vulnerable people and local advice workers are determined to help people understand their rights. You can find out where to get free and independent face-to-face advice about fuel bills or other money worries at: www.divabradford.org.uk/advice-services [Note to editors: details of two local face-to-face energy advice projects are given in the notes below]

Advice workers in Bradford District support thousands of people with debt problems, including fuel debts and Pre-Payment meters. They are helping increasing numbers of fuel poor clients who are in fuel debt and paying disproportionate amounts when using a Pre-Payment meter for their energy supply. Alex Bohdanowicz, Specialist Team Manager Bradford and Airedale Citizens Advice Bureau reported that in the first half of this year they have had a 20% increase of clients with fuel debt enquiries. Alex expects this figure to increase over the coming winter months.

Alex states that, “People are telling us that they are very worried about how they will manage this winter. Those on low income are regularly paying more than 10% of their household income in fuel bills; in many cases this is more like 30%”.

A household is considered to be in ‘fuel poverty’ if they spend more than 10% of their net income on heating and hot water. In 2009 it was estimated that 55,500 households in Bradford were likely to be living in fuel poverty. This figure is expected to increase with winter fast approaching and recent energy price rises.

While local advisors welcome the four point plan set out by the Government, in times of an economic downturn it is likely to be the poorest and most vulnerable who are hit the hardest. Food or heating is the choice many poor and vulnerable people have to make. Local advisors are monitoring how well the ‘Big 6’ suppliers are using the ‘5 key principles’ with vulnerable people and can help people struggling to manage.

Fuel bills have risen to £1,345 a year for the average household – double the £740 of five years ago. Electricity bills rose by 30 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2010, gas bills jumped 78 per cent. In England 15% of electricity and 12% of gas users are paying for their energy using a Pre-Payment meter. Last year around 2,000 PPM’s were installed every working day. With less money and even less options people are forced to self disconnect. Consumer Focus fears that more people with PPM’s are going without gas or electricity even in the coldest winter months.

- ENDS -

Editors Notes:

For information contact: Aysha Chetwood, Partnership Support Worker, Advice Network & Training Partnership (Monday-Thursday)

Mob: 079680 469 42 | Office: 01274 597 743 |

Email: ayshac@antp.org.uk Fax: 01274 921352

If you need to contact us on Friday please contact:

Nick Hodgkinson, Programme Manager, Advice Network & Training Partnership (Bradford & District) |

Tel: 01274 597743 | Mob: 07931 931092 | Fax: 01274 921352 |nickh@antp.org.uk

Please note the above numbers are not for the public!

How to find local face to face advice about fuel debt (For Public use)

Bradford and Airedale Citizens Advice Bureau

Energy Advice Service - Promoting affordable energy for all

Free, Independent, Confidential Advice on fuel debt, disconnection, problems with energy suppliers and energy awareness

Contact: Telephone: Bradford and Shipley - 01274 758042 (voicemail message only). If you live in Keighley please call - 01535 612433

Email: energyadvice@bradfordcab.com

Text Your NAME and NUMBER to 07954 969 188 (Standard text message rate may apply). The energy advice service aims to contact you within 5 working days

EnergyWise Project, at the Family Action Advice Centre: 01274 577571

Free advice on: fuel debt; paying for fuel; domestic energy; damp & condensation; grants for heating and insulation; warm front grants; community warmth schemes; energy trust grants; free energy saving products. Energy audits, change tariffs, wipe off debt, etc.

www.divabradford.org.uk/advice-services - Independent advice centres give free, confidential, independent, impartial and quality assured advice direct to the public. Advisers can help with a range of issues including fuel debt. So the easiest way to find the right session for you is to go online. This website allows you to search for advice sessions by selecting the type of advice needed and the postcode/s where you can attend. It gives you details of the location, day, time and frequency of each session, the name of the advice service provider, any restrictions on the types of client served, the types of advice provided and how to access the session (eg open door or appointment)

National Telephone Helplines and Websites

National Debt Line: National Debtline: 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

Consumer Direct: 08454 04 05 06 or fill in an online form: www.direct.gov.uk

Consumer Focus approved energy suppliers comparison websites: www.consumerfocus.org.uk/energy/confidence-code

References:

1) In 2009 it was estimated that 55,500 households in Bradford were likely to be living in fuel poverty in August 2009: Bradford Joint Strategic Needs Assessment – November 2010

2) In England 15% of electricity and 12% of gas users are paying for their energy using a Pre-Payment meter. Consumer Focus report “Cutting back, cutting down, cutting off” by Hannah Mummery & Holly Reid

3) The ‘big 6’ energy companies are: British Gas, Npower, Scottish Power, Eon, EDF Energy and SSE

4) Fuel bills have risen to £1,345 a year for the average household – double the £740 of five years ago. Electricity bills rose by 30 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2010, while gas bills jumped 78 per cent: Mail Online, Tuesday 18/10/11, Tim Shipman

The 5 Key Principles: the six largest energy suppliers in the UK will:

1. Use their own vulnerability checklist, as part of a comprehensive assessment process, to help determine the household’s circumstances before any new PPMs are force fitted or installed for debt related reasons. If PPM installation is not appropriate, the supplier’s representative will walk away and the customer will be offered alternative payment methods.
     

2.      Take into account changes in a household’s circumstances.  If the supplier agrees that it is no longer safe and practicable for the household to have a PPM, then the supplier will be prepared to exchange the meter without levying a removal charge. In cases of vulnerability, the supplier will not charge the customer for meter exchange.
  

3.      Extend the ‘friendly credit’ period on all electricity PPMs, where practicable, to overnight and over Christmas and New Year public holidays.
  

4.      If the pre-installation check reveals evidence of vulnerability and it is still considered safe and practicable to fit a PPM, where appropriate the supplier will commit to carrying out a package of support that includes:

• PPM tariff advice, including social tariffs where applicable;

·         energy efficiency information and information on entitlement to energy efficiency measures; and

• a benefit check or referral/signpost to an organisation that can provide a benefits check.
   

5.      Commit to improving communication with PPM customers.

The Governments 4 point plan:

• Letters to be sent to eight million consumers who could save £100 by switching from the quarterly credit billing system

• Government letters to four million vulnerable households - paid for by energy firms - informing them they were eligible for free insulation

• A campaign to encourage people to consider switching supplier and a commitment to provide energy use data in electronic form to aid making comparisons

• A report by Ofgem before the end of the year recommending ways to improve conduct and transparency in the industry
  
  
  

Insomniac

It's very late!
A recovering insomniac and tonight I have 'fallen off the waggon'.

As a kid I struggled to sleep. My mind always working overtime, imagination overdrive.

As an adult it is the same. At 4pm I can sleep anywhere by 8pm my body wants to sleep but my mind is jumping up and down craving some action.
I've tried all the recommended self - help don't eat after a certain time. Use your bedroom for sleeping, no TV, computers. Put lavender on your pillows, play soothing music, have a bath....... My body loves the self-help stuff. It makes no difference to my mind, it couldn't give a crap!

I resorted to sleeping pills - my mind can't beat those babies! 9pm I slip one down with a cool glass of water by 10pm my mind is screaming 'I give up go to sleep!'

Every now and again - tonight is one of those every now and again's - my mind gets so overactive even the pills can't make it clock off for the night.
And I have to go with it. I know I will suffer the next day but after years of semi functioning on little or no sleep I guess I'll survive one night right?

Firefighting

Its been a while since I last wrote a blog. I have been tweeting pretty much on a daily basis but anything more than 140 characters has eluded me.
My alter ego has been awake - Firefighter!
January 12th first day of my new job role, to say I 'blagged' it a little on the application form and interview would be a correct assessment!
I knew very little about Social Policy - what it was - what it stood for - how it worked, or how it all fitted into advice, the sector I 'blagged' my way to work within.
May 1st, four months into my new role, I now know all of the above and more.... {If you would like to know more or to test my knowledge about social policy and the advice sector, please DM me @aclambart twitter.com and I will give you a comprehensive description ;-)}

Firefighting is in my blood, I enjoy the challenge of knowing nothing about a subject and finding out everything - good job really!
Due to the length of time between finding another job role and my redundancy party I had to find two more part time jobs to enable me to 'mop' up the financial mess created - leaving me knackered!
Three paid jobs plus the unpaid (in monetary terms) job of parenting.
Something had to give? It did!
I now have two jobs, Working within the advice sector, an employability skills tutor plus the parenting one, things are just about manageable.

Firefighting is exciting and fun for a while but to be calm is necessary to find balance - a soothing ointment for the hyperactive body & mind.

It can be a struggle to concentrate on a topic or subject that feels vaguely interesting enough for anyone to read when all around you is demanding your attention {which may be true of this blog I am writing but hey ho!}.
Once you do, it can be the escape you need. Writing can give the solace you require, away from other distractions and chaos of 'real life'.

Helping you to forget that the bills need paying; the boy isn't doing his homework; your day job isn't your dream job; that you don't have the life you saw when you was 12yrs old, looking through your rose tinted NHS spectacles.
As a kid I would write to escape the reality of my life a pen and a piece of paper had the ability to whisk me away to other lands in far away places, with happy families.
I could escape the arguing, drinking the permanent fear that eroded my real life.
In my land of words there wasn't any fighting, alcohol fueled tempers. I walked through soft green meadows, instead of the sharp, pain inflicting egg shells of my life.

Writing refreshes and cleanses your soul giving you the  strength and energy to carry on in the crazy and uncertain world of firefighting!

The Adventure Continues

Two months on and I am STILL sitting at my computer, trawling through job search sites and completing endless application forms.

Today I am having a rest and writing a blog!

To be honest I have spent as much time engaging in Social Networking such as twitter.com  facebook.com as I have looking for employment!

There is a line in a song which goes something like this....'Last night a DJ saved my life, with a song!'
My song line is......'Last night Social Networking saved my life!'

Corny? Yes! Cheesey? Definately!

But true!

Give me a crisis and you will see the best in me.
I am a born 'firefighter'.
In the midst of disaster I leap into action, rounding up the troops, planning, organising with gusto!
I remain calm when all around there is chaos! Rational, practical and reliable!

When the Crisis is over - I fall apart! When the dust has settled and the troops have disbanded, normality ensuing the changes, I am left reeling, wandering around aimlessly screaming 'What Just Happened?'

Nobody is listening.

The 'troops' have left happily skipping towards their new adventures.
I wouldn't have it any other way.

I certainly wouldn't want them to witness my 'falling apart'. That has to be done alone.

When I found out I was to be made redundant I whipped into action. Forming support groups for my colleagues making myself available 24/7 to those who needed to talk, who wanted advice and support. I plunged myself into positivity. Encouraging and applauding as my colleagues attended interviews and were successful in securing new employment.

At the end of the 'Redundancy Party' we (the troops and I) parted company with hugs, kisses and false promises to 'keep in touch'!

The next few weeks are a blur of gradual deterioration into a cloudy black fog of confusion, panic, despair and  hopelessness.

Why can't I get another job? I'm not good enough? What the hell am I going to do??
Single parent of a 10yr old boy, dwindling redundancy money, car payments, tennis, clothes, shoes to buy - Argh!!!!

In the middle of this 'black cloud' I found Social Networking predominantly twitter.com

At first I only followed conversations and then I began to follow people. It was intriguing to me to read what people was thinking, feeling and doing without having to interact.
I clicked on links which led me to peoples blogs - I read everything I could from an individuals personal thought to blogs about interests or gadgets. I was hooked!

It didn't take my own problems away but it helped to calm my internal panic and confusion.

I now have some followers of my own and interact with them on twitter.com

I follow people for different reasons; Funny, Kind, Interesting, Informative, Inspiring, Motivating .......

Here are a few of them;

@paulocoelho is an author of numerous books, he engages with his audience by inviting them to interact with him and each other via his website: http://www.paulocoelhoblog.com/ he twitters some thought provoking stuff too.

@coporatemonk - life coach for business with a passion for adventure - you can find him: http://darrenwise.wordpress.com/

@marcus_baker - internet marketer and a very inspiring guy! Find him: http://www.marcusonthemove.com/

@lance02 Writer at the Jungle of Life, he discusses life and our journey through it - writes some fantastic quotes. Find him: http://www.jungleoflife.com/

@alihale Professional Blogger Find her: http://www.aliventures.com/ - ali has written an ebook 'Staff Blogging Course' - highly recommended!

@LiveLifeByMyRulz & @WarriorSage Creative Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, Singer/Song Writer and Master of multiple streams of Income. Find him: http://www.yourdailylifecoach.com/ his video's have truly inspired and motivated me.

@csdaley a fantastic writer you can read his blog:  http://www.csdaley.com/

There are many more fabulous people I follow such as @TheOldDear very witty lady! Who always replies to my random tweets!

The Black Fog still surrounds me but I feel it shifting slightly and.....Oh!......Wait!.....I think I can see a little sunshine coming my way.............?!

'Last Night Social Networking Saved My Life & Today, Tomorrow..............!'

The Adventure Continues...

The Adventure Begins...........

For the last few weeks instead of looking for work and filling in endless application forms I have been engaging in a much more industrious occupation....


Procrastination [to delay or postpone an action]


We all do it - cleaning, reading celeb magazines, organising the recycling bin......the list is endless!

It doesn't matter what we engage in just as long as it does NOT include that important task we are meant to be working on!!


It was whilst engaging in the act of procrastination that I stumbled upon Twitter.


I have heard it said that:

A positive always follows a negative or that As one door closes another one opens


The last few months I have questioned these sayings. I could not see any positive and the doors seemed to be slamming in my face as I came closer and closer to my Redundancy Party!


Today I wonder if (whoever designed these quotes - maybe someone could inform me?) 'they' could be true?
My 'Positive' and 'Open door' has been Social Networking.

Twitter and other Social Networking sites have allowed me to make new networks and connect with interesting and informative people.

Through Twitter I have explored the concept of 'Blogging'! I am quite sure I do not know the finer details of the Blogging world but I am sure enjoying experimenting with it.

During the 'redundancy' process in the back of my mind the idea that I could maybe start writing again has kept jumping around giving me headache!
I have always written, but kept this passion on a back burner deep in the back of my mind, while I earned a 'real' living to support my family.
Something I would perhaps do when I retired without the responsibilty of a family to support!

Having found Twitter and following some really 'cool' and 'inspiring' people it has given me a renewed 'passion' for my writing. Blogger has given me a way to practise and improve my writing.

Could I support my family and make an income with my writing......who knows?

Is Social Networking/Twitter/Blogger my positive or my open door......

The Adventure continues................................

Comments/advice/constructive criticism welcome!

The Adventure Begins

Redundant with no fixed source of income!

I have no 'real' excuse at not having a job lined up - there are plenty of vacancies out there and I've had plenty of time to apply.

The truth is I don't want another 9-5 job, where: Flexibility, Well Being, Family...... are just words without meaning or action attached to them.

This is the first time I have openly admitted to myself, or others that I no longer feel the passion for my work within a charity.

It's not the many disadvantaged young people I have supported over the last 15yrs. I still care passionately for them and the barriers they face and have overcome.

I do not however feel passion for working in a corporate enviroment where politics and red tape come between been able to help and support a young person or not.

It feels good to say what I have been feeling over the last few months. It gives me a sense of relief - not sure I will be saying that next month when I have to pay the bills!

But for now I feel an excitment that I haven't felt for a long time, that feeling of adventure, when you are begining a journey that you have never trod before and you are 'itching' to get started.

I have had one of the most overwhelming few weeks! I work for a highly respected National organisation. for most of my time there i have loved, indeed been passionate about the work i do. although in the last couple years there has been many changes, restructures, consultations, and redundancies, leaving employees (myself included) realing, overwhelmed and trying to catch their breath! It has left the organisation working in a completely different way and in some ways that I neither understand or agree with. It has been left with an inexperienced management structure who, to be honest I am ashamed and embarrassed to be connected with. While all this has been happening I have focussed, as much as possible, on my work, confident that although I do not agree with everything, that I can continue to work with and support the people I am passionate about, helping them to move forward in their lives despite massive disadvantages! But events over these weeks have forced me to reevaluate why I have stayed in this organisation? Finding cellspin is giving me the platform to write my thoughts, feelings, and to give you the opportunity to follow me on my journey, which will be a journey of fear, uncertainty as I have no idea how this will all resolve itself?My position as I write this is I have accepted Voluntary redundancy (or was maybe forced into it, im not sure?)So i guess for now you are as up to date as i am with all this. Over the coming weeks as the adventure continues.