Fuel Poverty in H&F, by Sharon Tomlin, Sobus Community Organiser

The impact of fuel poverty today is wide reaching across households in the UK as energy bills as of April 2022 have faced huge increase for most. The picture is no different for residents living in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that is now considered part of the nationwide cost of living crisis.

According to the organisation, “End Fuel Poverty” the definition of fuel poverty is “the condition by which a household is unable to afford to heat their home to an adequate temperature”

Residents of Hammersmith and Fulham have been sharing the concerns and challenges in meeting living costs and the impact both personally and within families. The choice between heating and food has revealed the huge gaps – decrease in income whether from being lower paid or changes in welfare benefits for those facing fuel poverty. Below are some thoughts shared.

  • Pre-payment meters: feeling ashamed when purchasing fuel top ups on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) basis as many are on fuel debt repayment plans that are on higher rates to those paying through the standing orders or direct debit
  • Contacting energy suppliers: feeling helpless and disempowered when trying to contact suppliers and not being able to get through. Phone calls are costly especially when calling from a PAYG mobile phone.
  • Most reported poor living conditions in properties that are fuel inefficient with problems such as damp, moulds and general poor insulation
  • Tariffs: residents reported that tariffs ought to be fairer in that many are not equitable to especially to those that are on pre-payment meters owing to the imposition of higher costs
  • Debt repayment: to consider changing the way debt is taken to be more proportionate for those on pre-payment meters with a repayment plan who experience paying more when topping up with less energy that last for the week

The stories kindly shared by residents of Hammersmith and Fulham have suggested that dialogue ought to be continued as this has highlighted the need to involve community more widely to engage the experiences of those organisations supporting residents from the frontline. Sobus plans to do so.

Current support available to residents in the borough include:

 

/by

Important News If You Hold AGM or Trustee Meetings Online, by Sue Spiller, Sobus CEO

The Charity Commission says charities need their governing documents to permit them to hold official meetings remotely.

Since April 2020, the regulator has allowed charities in England and Wales to hold meetings remotely outside of what was permitted in their official documents because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the commission has updated its online guidance for charities on Covid-19 to say that charity meetings such as AGMs, member or trustee meetings must be held in person unless the organisation’s governing documents permit otherwise.

All registered charities will need to ensure that their governing documents permit them to hold official meetings remotely if they wish to continue doing so after 22nd April 2022.  

H&F registered charities are strongly encouraged to check their governance document to see whether it includes that meetings can be held remotely.  

 

Paul Latham, director of communications and policy at the Charity Commission, said: “We’ve taken a flexible and supportive approach to regulation during the pandemic, being understanding when charities have had to hold meetings outside of the terms of their governing document.

“As restrictions have been lifted it’s right that charities return to meeting the requirements of their governing document or making the necessary changes to allow them to hold meetings in the way that works best for them.”

Submitting returns to the Charities Commission:

The regulator said it also wanted to remind charities that they no longer had an automatic right to apply for a Covid-related filing extension for annual documents, which was introduced during the pandemic.

The ability for charities to do this was removed last year, meaning charities must again submit their annual returns within 10 months of the end of the financial year, but the commission said it was still receiving applications from charities for such extensions.

/by

Former Charity Commission Board Member Named Preferred Choice as Next Chair

Nadine Dorries, Culture Secretary, has named Orlando Fraser as the government’s preferred candidate to be the next chair of the Charity Commission. Click here to read the full article on the Civil Society website.

/by

The Purls UK Campaign

The Purls UK are crowdfunding to create three new minibloom planters! Find out more here

/by

Heightened Cyber Security Advice: Useful Guidance

In the light of the Ukraine crisis and heightened security risks for charities, particularly those operating internationally, our partners at the National Cyber Security Centre also wish to highlight two pieces of guidance which could help you at the moment. See the links below to read the full articles:

Also make sure to check National Cyber Security Centre’s website for many useful tools available for charities for free such as the Early Warning service, Mail Check and Web Check.

/by

Outside Edge New Theatre Production

 

Our friends at Outside Edge are bringing their new production Barefaced to Chelsea Theatre

Friday 18th – Saturday 19th March.

 

Presented by Outside Edge Theatre Company, the UK’s only theatre company and participatory

arts charity with a focus on addiction, Barefaced is a collaborative piece about tall tales and the

deceit that lives within our stories, especially in the world of addiction.

 

When Frank dies a web of lies starts to unravel. A group of mourners gather to mark the end of his life. But who really was Frank? And will anyone celebrate his life, or just claim back what was theirs?

Directed by Hannah Hauer-King (The Funeral Director, Southwark Playhouse; Grotty, Breathe, Bunker Theatre), written by Jane Bodie (Women’s Prize for Playwriting shortlist,

Hampstead Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company), and performed by actors in recovery.

 

Tickets are available to book now!

– Click here

/by
,

Doing Our Bit for Climate Change!

 

When thinking about taking climate action, it can be hard to know where to start. What can you do to have the most impact? 

That’s why H&F Council are offering organisations free use of a carbon tracking app. This has been designed to measure, track and report on the carbon emissions across your organisation. The app will help to clearly identify actions that need to be taken to lower carbon emissions. 

Interested in the carbon tracking app? Join the H&F Climate Alliance here  

/by
,

Invitation to Hammersmith & Fulham Community Tree Planting Day

I’d like to invite you and your community to this tiny forest planting day in Normand Park . It is free and suitable for all ages. It’s a great way to get involved in your local area and also a fab way to boost wellbeing. You can sign up by clicking here  but you are also welcome to turn up at any point during the day.

Link

/by
,

Giving World Acting on Poverty

 

Get free essential goods for your beneficiaries at www.givingworld.org.uk

Following the challenges of the past few years and the further impending increase to the cost of living, the need in our communities will continue to grow. Giving World can help you to meet that need by providing business surplus stock free of charge, such as clothing, food items, toiletries, cleaning and household products as well as other useful items.

Goods can be collected directly from us, or we can arrange delivery at cost – you will only ever pay for transport.

To access these goods when you need them, simply register your organisation here: https://www.givingworld.org.uk/register/user

 

If you would like more information, please call us on 0116 251 6205 between 9.30am-4pm Monday-Thursday and 9.30am-12.30pm Friday.

You can also send an email with any queries to admin@givingworld.org.uk.

 

Reg. Charity No. 1105883

 

/by