Blog: My first year of tackling fuel poverty with National Energy Action

Following my first anniversary with National Energy Action, it feels like a good time to look back at what has been a really busy and rewarding first year. The charity is 45 years old, and we’ve never been more needed. Therefore, it’s been a very busy first year since joining the organisation.  

I’ve spent a lot of that time getting out and about, building relationships and finding new ways to connect National Energy Action with organisations and communities across the Eastern region. One of the biggest successes has been the relationship I’ve developed with Luton Borough Council, where we’ve gone from having limited links to now working closely with several teams across the council.  

I am now a member of Luton’s Financial Resilience Network Committee, and this has created valuable opportunities to raise awareness of fuel poverty and the impact that energy costs can have on people’s wider financial wellbeing. I am also working closely with the Health and Social Care Unit, particularly Adult Social Care and the Prevention and Community Connections team. These links are important, as fuel poverty can have a significant impact on health, independence and the ability for residents to engage with support services. As a result of these relationships, we are now receiving referrals directly from these departments.  

These connections have also enabled us to reach a much wider range of Luton communities. Through partnerships with local services and events, we have taken our Mobile Advice Centre (MAC) to several locations across the town, bringing energy advice directly into underserved communities.  

Having the MAC van alongside the Dementia Bus in Luton town centre was a great example of partnership, bringing different organisations and services together in one place to make support more visible and accessible to residents.  

I’m looking forward to developing my relationship with the council over the next year and particularly seeing what we can do to help people stay warm and well this winter.