Fuel Debt Advice in the Community 6281-16 (Level 2)
FUNDED COURSE
14 October 2026, in Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Fuel Debt can a challenging and costly cycle for vulnerable households. This course is designed for frontline staff and volunteers supporting low‑income and vulnerable households who are experiencing, or at risk of, fuel debt.
Learners will gain a clear understanding of the causes of fuel debt and explore common issues relating to energy meters, bills, payment methods and tariff options. The course also covers complaints procedures and the range of support available, equipping learners with the knowledge and confidence to help households manage fuel costs and access appropriate assistance.
This course is aimed at frontline staff and volunteers working with low-income and vulnerable households who may be in fuel debt or at risk from fuel debt.
- causes of and identify solutions for fuel debt
- customer and supplier responsibilities
- how to read meters, fuel statements and rectify common billing errors
- suppliers’ customer service processes and complaints procedures
- tariff and payment options, Warm Home Discount Scheme, grants and other forms of assistance – including trusts and hardship funds
- The causes of fuel debt
- Electricity, gas meters and recording consumption
- Consumer and fuel supplier’s rights and responsibilities
- Tariff and payment options
- Fuel statements
- Common billing errors
- Definitions of vulnerability used by the energy industry
- Contacting the supplier and complaints procedures
- Switching
- Help available to low-income and vulnerable families – including Priority Services Register, Warm Home Discount Scheme, trust and hardship funds
Please note that the course content will focus mainly on England and Wales. If you are based in Northern Ireland or Scotland and interested in this course, please contact trainingadmin@nea.org.uk before booking so we can discuss the main differences.
One-day course followed by an open book assessment which will be sent to learners upon completion of the course.
DATE: 14 October 2026
TIMES: 9:00am registration for a 9:30am start – 4:00pm
LOCATION: Caernarfon, Gwynedd
This course will be delivered in-person followed by an online open book assessment which will be shared with learners upon completion of the course.
DATE: 14 October 2026
TIMES: 9:00am registration for a 9:30am start – 4:00pm
LOCATION: Caernarfon, Gwynedd
Find out more
This one-day course will be delivered in person by one of our expert tutors. It is designed for a small group to maximise interaction, encourage participation in engaging activities, and provide tailored support throughout the day.
All key learning outcomes are covered during the course, with additional guidance available through the accompanying reference materials provided to learners.
To support successful completion of the course and reinforce learning, learners should also allow approximately four hours of self-directed study outside of the scheduled training session.
This in-person course is scheduled to take place on 14 October 2026 (9:00am registration for a 9:30am – 4:00pm) in Caernarfon, Gwynedd.
After the session, learners will receive a course manual covering all relevant topics.
To support successful completion of the course, learners should allow approximately four hours of self-directed study outside of the scheduled sessions.
Upon successful completion of the course, learners will be invited to complete an assessment to achieve the Level 2 City & Guilds qualification – Fuel Debt Advice in the Community (6281-16).
There are no fixed assessment dates to attend. The assessment is completed in an open‑book, take‑home format that will be issued to learners at the end of the course.
Learners will have two weeks from the date of issue to complete and submit their assessment. As this is an open‑book assessment, learners are actively encouraged to refer to their course materials and handouts when completing the assessment.
The recommended study and assessment completion time is approximately 3 hours.
Funded places are available to non-commercial/ not for profit organisations based in Wales (such as local authorities, housing associations, advice agencies etc). Learners must also be frontline staff or volunteers that encounter and provide advice to those in or at risk of fuel poverty.
This applies to to online delivery only.
All courses and processes are assessed in line with BSI ISO 9001 quality management standards.
To maintain their effectiveness, courses are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. If you identify any gaps, inaccuracies, or areas for improvement, we encourage you to share your feedback with us.
If you have any questions, please contact us to discuss.
Funding eligibility
| Eligibility criteria for a funded place |
|---|
| This course is available on a funded basis to non-commercial and not-for-profit organisations in Wales, such as local authorities, housing associations, and advice agencies. Learners must be frontline staff or volunteers who work with clients experiencing, or at risk of, fuel poverty. This includes individuals on low incomes or in vulnerable circumstances who are struggling to meet and manage their household energy costs. |
