Energy rebate prompts increase in fuel charity donations

A charity which supports vulnerable prepayment meter (PPM) customers with emergency fuel vouchers has said it has seen a significant increase in public donations since the start of the energy crisis.

Fuel Bank Foundation said it has received more than £250,000 from around 2,000 public donations since April.

Of this, more than £88,000 (35% of the total) was donated in October alone when the first £66 payment was issued as part of the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

Charity boss Matthew Cole explained Fuel Bank receives most of its funding from central and local government, energy companies and other industry organisations, with a “very small proportion” coming from public donations.

Cole said the cost-of-living crisis and rising energy bills have “put fuel poverty in the spotlight”, creating greater awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by people on lower incomes, which in turn has generated thousands of donations.

He said the charity is “extremely grateful to those who have felt compelled to help those less fortunate”.

He continued: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that donations have increased just as the first of the £66 payments have landed in people’s bank accounts. Not everyone feels they need the rebate due to their own financial circumstances and instead have decided to donate the money.”

Cole noted the efforts of an online campaign urging people to donate their rebate if they do not need it themselves.

He added: “We are aware of the online campaign and we’re flattered that people have got behind it and chosen to support Fuel Bank, recognising the value and positive impact we have on lives.

“However, as grateful as we are for the donations, we shouldn’t have to rely on the generosity of philanthropic members of the public.”

Elsewhere fellow fuel charity National Energy Action (NEA) has also seen an uptick in the number of donations this year, from both the public and private industry, but it would not reveal the total figure.

Matthew Copeland, NEA’s head of policy and public affairs, told Utility Week: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the public, many of whom have donated their own energy bill rebates to us so that we can help some of the most impacted households through a very hard winter.”

This year, the Utility Week Awards are proud to support National Energy Action and the Fuel Bank Foundation and will be running a range of fundraising and awareness-raising activities at the ceremony in London this evening.