'I actually cried, it meant I could heat my home' - but Selce's vital energy advice service at risk
Nadia Smith explains how the crucial advice service helps clients struggling with rising energy bills. And why South East London Community Energy (Selce) has launched a fundraiser to keep the service going this winter.
“I actually cried because it meant I could heat my home and sit in comfort.”
71-year-old client with asthma and arthritis.
“It might seem small to some, but for us, it’s a big thing.”
Single mother and domestic abuse survivor.
Have you ever tried to call your energy supplier to sort a billing issue and waited hours on the phone just to speak to someone, who then ends up struggling to understand your problem?
Or perhaps you struggled to even get through the answerphone systems and confusing website layout to find that support in the first place?
Now imagine trying to do that but you’re:
- managing a tired toddler and a newborn
- exhausted from your autoimmune disease
- scared to pick up the phone due to your worrying debt.
You thought you had it bad sorting out energy issues? Just imagine having these additional challenges too.
South East London Community Energy (also known as Selce) has an energy advice team working tirelessly to support local people with all types of energy issues, and these examples are cases we see every day.
From fixing heating systems, to tackling debt, helping people access discounts and grants they’re eligible for, and providing warming and energy saving kits, our energy advice service has recently won national awards for its work – with glowing reviews from clients who feel our advisors really care, and help even when others can’t.
Now here’s the problem - this winter, we may not be able to continue helping as many people as we know we need to.
After Christmas, we have a major funding gap - not enough grants to pay our staff to continue to deliver this service.
We continue to receive 300 plus requests for fuel poverty support every month. And we no longer have the funding to respond to all of them.
In 2024-5, our energy advice and targeted fuel poverty support unlocked over £1.06 million in total household savings across South East London. And we saved on average £442 per household, growing to approximately £968 per household over 3 years.
We’ve never done this before in our 11 year history, but we’ve been forced to turn to our community to support us now.
So, if you’re getting into the festive spirit in the season of giving, please donate whatever amount you can to keep our energy advice service running!
In the coldest months of the year families across London will be in need, and we need to be there to help them.
Even if you can’t donate, please drop a comment of support on our campaign posts online, like and share the campaign, so others see them who may be able to.
“Very patient, kind and took on my very big complex case with my energy company. So many people previously failed to help.”
Support the fundraiser:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-our-energy-advice-team-jan-funding-gap
Nadia Smith is co-chair of South East London Community Energy (Selce).
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