Citizens Advice Isle of Wight has issued guidance to clarify what is and isn’t available for Islanders who need help this winter.
The organisation has made moves to provide accurate information following a number of posts on social media containing misinformation in recent weeks, particularly above fuel vouchers.
The Isle of Wight Foodbank has confirmed that they do not hand out ‘fuel bank’ vouchers, despite what you may have read on social media. Whilst there was a pilot scheme giving out ‘fuel bank’ vouchers in the North of England in 2015, it is not a current scheme and IW Foodbank, unfortunately, cannot help people in this way.
Local energy charity The Footprint Trust can help by giving specialist advice and signposting you to grants. Or you can apply yourself using get lots of info on grants and help for fuel bills from the Citizens Advice website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/…/grants-and-benefits-to…/.
If you have no income and are in crisis, you may be able to get help by applying to Help Through Crisis, a local scheme. https://islehelp.me/help-through-crisis/.
Gretel Ingham from Citizens Advice Isle of Wight says:
“We know that this is a time of the year when many people struggle and we wanted to make sure that everyone has the most accurate information”.
For help with any of this and for free impartial, confidential advice on any other issues, visit the Citizens Advice team at the Isle Help Advice Centre, County Hall, Newport.
