The Footprint Trust has recruited volunteers to help it cope with unprecedented levels of enquiries as Islanders struggle with energy price hikes, but is appealing for more volunteers to come forward.
Isle of Wight residents are facing unprecedented domestic energy bills. As of 1st October, a new ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ will mean a typical UK household will now pay an average £2,500 a year, however, the Trust points out that those in poorly insulated homes with old heating systems could have bills of over £6,000.
Before the COVID pandemic, fuel poverty levels were around 11% of households on the Island – they then rose to about 18%. The Footprint Trust predicts that this will rise to around 30% of Isle of Wight households by the end of the 2023 winter. This means that some 21,000 homes will be affected, making difficult choices between heating and eating.
The Footprint Trust helps around 2,000 fuel-poor residents every year, through practical guidance and grants.
Ray Harrington-Vail of The Footprint Trust says:
“With a growing number of people contacting us during the summer, we realised that this winter period would be our busiest yet, we appealed for volunteers with a knowledge of energy issues and a number of come forward, we are still looking for a few more….”
Volunteers with a level of expertise in energy and related matters, such as retired electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, engineers and teachers, are being sought. But anyone with numeracy skills and a desire to help, subject to a DBS check, will be considered.
There will be an initial training day in Newport on Saturday 8th October. For more information, email [email protected] or call 01983 822282.
This Tory Government do not care for the people, they only line their own pockets.
How can any normal human being treat people this way.
Sadly many elderly will die this winter due to the Tory created Energy crisis.
i don’t think its fair to say that the Tories created the energy crisis, but their response to it has been lamentable. Sunak had the right idea, so they dumped him, and put in place an expert in – economic history!
You couldn’t make it up, but then we don’t need to.
Hopefully the other parties will pull together to get rid of this circus of clowns ASAP. Between them and with support from disaffected Tories, they just might pull of a Vote of No Confidence leading to a General Election. But don’t hold your breath…
Even after 12 years of the Tories in Power
I doubt people will have the Brains to vote for another party.
It’s time for change. I am fed up with all the Tory Lies.
And you think you would get the truth from any other party do you? Politicians are liars, ALL of them, regardless of what party they are in. No matter who was in charge we will still be in the same position for decades to come. People who vote just waste their own good time as no politician will ever do what they are voted in to do.
I can’t understand why you got voted down Helen, your points are perfectly correct.
The Prime minister and Chancellor are a disgrace. Putin’s war in Russia has caused the hike in energy prices for gas and electricity and food prices to rise.
But to give the super rich a tax cut is utterly unbelievable when middle, low paid and the elderly are going to struggle like hell. That’s a Tory Government for you! Don’t give a sh*t.
The war is in Ukraine, not Russia. If you seriously think that the war is what has caused the obscene rise in fuel, gas and electricity prices, then there is no hope for you. We bought very little fuel from Russia, we buy it from the Arabs. We generate our own electricity. The supermarkets are keeping the cost of fuel artificially high for their own profits, they have not passed on the 40% decrease in the cost of crude to the consumers. If governments of all parties had not left us largely reliant on Russia for gas, we would not be in the position we are, and if Bozo hadn’t decided to refuse to buy Russian gas in his pathetic support of Ukraine, we could still be getting cheap gas now.
The low paid need to get better jobs. Tons out there.
Any elderly who can’t afford their bills only have themselves to blame. Should have saved more when they were younger.
I worked hard and now have a comfortable retirement. Going to need to tighten my belt a bit, but that’s it.
People moan about about people moving here but most of the problems are caused by lazy islanders.
Nice of you to spout about how OK you are. Not everyone is in a situation to save. I’ve worked all my life, never claimed a benefit, raised a child and gave them the best I could but have always been in the situ of just about getting by. I don’t have savings and am concerned about the rise in cost of living. I have no ‘luxuries’ and am baffled when I see many out of work/young kids etc all in their nice trendy gear/smoking/drinking/top phones etc and wonder to myself HOW do they get that and WHERE did I go so wrong!!!
Totally agree Bill the tories got us in the sh*t they should get us out of it .
not just energy prices Food , fuel as well or am I right in thinking that the tories think crafty and if fuel prices stay high it will cut some of the running around in cars and lorries for no other reason than a jolly and look like they are attending to emissions and tick a box