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New Initiative to Tackle Fuel Poverty and Digital Exclusion in the Disabled Community
Written by
Purpl
Published on
December 9, 2024
Although it launched in October 2024, many people are still unaware about the new Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service to help tackle fuel poverty and digital exclusion. Scope has partnered with UK gas distributor Cadent to work together to help support around 225,000 disabled people.
We’ve put together a quick overview of the new initiative so you can see how it might be able to help you and your household.
In This Article
- How will the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service Help Disabled People?
- What Kind of Help Does the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service Provide?
- Is the Scheme Open to Every Disabled Person in the UK?
- Who is Eligible for the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service?
- What is the Process for Accessing this Disability Benefit?
- Additional Resources That Scope Can Help You With
- Is the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service Free?
- How to Contact the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service
How will the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service Help Disabled People?
The Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service is focused on helping the disabled community with energy bills, grants, discounts and energy efficiency. The service offers one to one sessions so that they can create a bespoke action plan to help disabled people who are struggling to stay warm, whilst managing their living costs effectively.
What Kind of Help Does the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service Provide?
The Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service will help disabled individuals and households with a wide range of support to help them stay warm and safe, these services include:
- Guidance on managing energy and water debt
- Assistance with changing energy meters
- Advice on energy and water efficiency
- Advice on how to access benefits, grants and trusts
- Support with contacting or making complaints to energy suppliers
- How to understand gas and electricity bills
- Instructions on how to use heating systems effectively
- Registration assistance for the Priority Services Register
Is the Scheme Open to Every Disabled Person in the UK?
Yes! Whilst the initiative has primarily been designed to assist disabled individuals and their families living in Manchester, Norwich, Stoke-on-Trent and London there is still a broader support service available to those outside of these regions via telephone appointments and email communication.
Who is Eligible for the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service?
All disabled people in the UK are eligible to use the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service, so if you receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or any other disability benefit you are eligible to use the service. The service is also available to any UK household where one or more disabled individuals live.
What is the Process for Accessing this Disability Benefit?
You can access the support in a number of ways to suit your needs:
In-Person Support:
You can visit the Scope team of energy experts within community settings across Greater Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, North and East London, and East Anglia (Norwich). These sessions are free to attend and you can just turn up without having to register. Check the Scope website to find out when they are going to be in your area.
Group Talks:
If you are part of a local group or organisation you can arrange for the Scope’s energy advisors to give a talk at your group, you can even invite them to attend your coffee mornings. To arrange a session, you will need to email Scope directly.
Remote Support:
For those disabled people who are unable to attend in-person, Scope offers the Disability Energy Support service via telephone or email. This service is available to any disabled person or households across England, Scotland, and Wales. You can contact Scope for further help.
Additional Resources That Scope Can Help You With
Scope will can also provide advice and resources on carbon monoxide safety, Priority Services Register awareness as well as guidance on maximising income and benefits entitlement. These resources are available through their community engagements and online platforms.
By utilising these services, disabled individuals and their families can receive comprehensive support to manage energy costs and improve energy efficiency, ensuring a safer and more comfortable living environment.
Is the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service Free?
Yes! The Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service sessions and all the advice they are provide are free with no cost to disabled individuals or their family. This initiative is designed to provide immediate and accessible support to disabled individuals and their families, helping them manage energy costs and improve energy efficiency.
How to Contact the Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service
By Phone: 0808 801 0828
By Email: [email protected]
The Scope Community Disability Energy Advice Service service operates Monday to Friday: 11 am to 4 pm. For more information please visit the Scope’s Disability Energy Support page.
For the most current information and any updates to their drop-in session schedule, please visit Scope’s Community Disability Energy Advice page.
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