Positive Action In Housing Partnership with gas distribution network SGN
3 September 2024
Marginalised ethnicities are disproportionately vulnerable to fuel poverty, particularly those with migratory backgrounds. Partnering with SGN will support Positive In Action Housing to continue to deliver much needed energy advisory and safeguarding support to Black and Minority Ethnic communities across Glasgow.
This new partnership which commenced in July 2024, will reach out to the most vulnerable minority ethnic households in Glasgow offering them real and practical help to live safely in energy affordable and warm homes. This project aims to directly support Black and Minority Ethnic households, specifically refugees recently granted Leave to Remain, settled BME communities, and new EU migrants living in Glasgow’s most deprived areas. This support will be delivered in partnership with SGN and supported by experienced Energy Advisors and Community Energy Champions, either face to face or in group settings.
This partnership is the result of SGN’s commitment to support 500,000 vulnerable customers in Scotland and southern England from 2021-2026 with Ofgem’s Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance made available to help communities and individuals most in need.
Positive Action In Housing’s Financial Inclusion Team will deliver the services via Multilingual Energy advice and casework service, Energy debt and benefits advice, Energy awareness workshops and volunteer development.
Sraboni Bhattacharya, Head of Financial Inclusion Team said “We are dedicated to keeping our service users safe and warm in their homes all year round, whatever the weather. We are very excited about this new partnership with SGN as it will help us to deliver a comprehensive service and support us in going above and beyond for vulnerable BME households in Glasgow”
Linda Spence, Vulnerability Manager at SGN, said: “We’re committed to keeping our communities safe and warm and we know people unfamiliar with Britain’s energy economy need extra help to navigate this. By working in a joined-up way with Positive Action in Housing, we’re able to reach those who are really struggling and provide much needed energy advice. Through building strong connections, we can help vulnerable households get much needed help.”