Nine rounds later: the Energy Redress Scheme in numbers

The Energy Redress Scheme usually open funding rounds on a quarterly basis, depending on the amount of funding available in the pot. To date, nine rounds have been opened with funding allocated to 120 projects. The applications to Round 9 are currently being assessed and the successful projects should be announced before Christmas.

708 charities have successfully registered to apply for funding through the scheme from all over Great Britain and over 500 applications have been submitted across the nine rounds. Unfortunately, we are unable to fund all of the projects that are submitted, but those charities that are unsuccessful can receive feedback on their application, review their project idea and reapply in future rounds. There are plenty of tips available in the application guidance pack on our website.

So far, the Energy Redress scheme has funded 120 projects across England, Scotland and Wales. They range from free and impartial energy advice services aimed at privately renting households, families or those with cold related health issues, to projects supporting young people living on their own for the first time and research into new ways to help people use more of the energy generated by their solar panels. Take a look at our interactive map to see how widely spread they are.

Energy Saving Trust has awarded over £19.1 million in funding to the successful redress applicants. The funding is mainly used to pay for staff time to deliver the projects, for equipment and training for the team and for small energy saving measures for vulnerable households.

…is the largest grant secured for a single project so far. Warmer Homes West Midlands is an ambitious partnership programme to provide an energy advice service for the fuel poor across the West Midlands. The programme will help over 7,000 vulnerable households, create nine new jobs and help secure a further eight positions.

On the flipside, this is the smallest amount of funding secured for a single project to date, but it’s no less important. The Research Institute for Disabled Consumers will use this funding, secured in Round 7, to examine how accessible smart home mobile applications are for disabled and older consumers. This will include collecting direct feedback of consumers’ experiences and needs through surveys, testing and usability workshops.

Here at Energy Saving Trust we have three development officers to support charities that are interested in applying to the Energy Redress scheme. They also monitor and support the projects that were successful in securing funding.

Energy Redress Scheme projects have reached over 55,000 people with advice and support. These households have been supported through a combination of home visits, face to face appointments, telephone and online advice, with thousands more reached with information at community events, through online resources and local media.

Over 6,000 households have been referred to additional sources of support, for example to help with debt or for benefits advice. Over 4,800 volunteers and frontline professionals have been briefed on fuel poverty issues and how to support the people they work with.

To date, Energy Redress projects have saved clients over £1.55 million through advice and support to reduce their fuel bills. This has been achieved through helping consumers switch to better tariffs or cheaper ways to pay, sorting out billing errors and helping people to access financial support for their fuel bills.