Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Today is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (26th November) and reminds us that, across Birmingham and the West Midlands, many households are struggling to keep their homes warm and energy bills manageable. With almost one quarter of households in Birmingham living in fuel poverty, the impact is felt not only in people’s bank accounts, but also in their physical and mental health.

At BrumEnergy, we see firsthand how cold, damp, or poorly insulated homes shape families’ daily lives from energy debt building to households having to make difficult decisions about heating, food, and essential needs. We work as part of a wider network with health, social care, and community partners to provide holistic support that makes homes warmer, safer, and healthier.

Fuel Poverty Is a Health Issue

Cold and damp homes can make people ill and worsen existing health conditions, including:

  • respiratory conditions like asthma
  • cardiovascular problems
  • skin conditions
  • mental health challenges, stress and anxiety

Increasingly, we are seeing people being treated for these conditions, only to be discharged back into the same cold, damp homes that contributed to the illness in the first place.

As part of the NEA Warm Homes, Healthy Futures national network, we are working to ensure fuel poverty and poor housing conditions are recognised as health priorities, and that support ensuring patients have a warm, comfortable home becomes a routine part of a person’s routine care.

One woman living with heart and circulation problems recently told us she felt “overwhelmed with relief” after receiving a warm home pack and guidance to help her stay warm this winter.

Supporting People in the Places They Already Trust:  Community Clinics and Events

Throughout the year, our advisors have delivered in-person energy advice at community and health-focused events, giving people quick, friendly access to support in places they already trust. These sessions have helped residents understand their bills, challenge unfair charges, manage energy use safely, and access urgent support.

For one family of 11 living in a draughty Victorian home, speaking to us at a local event led to immediate help: warm home packs, draught-proofing, and follow-up support that made a real difference in keeping their children safe and warm.

Referrals Through Health and Social Care

We also receive referrals from a wide range of health and social care professionals. These referrals allow us to arrange tailored support, including phone appointments, home visits, and complex casework, ensuring the people most affected by fuel poverty get timely, personalised help.

For example a single parent caring for three neuro-diverse children was referred to us when high energy costs and a prepayment meter debt of nearly £900 became unmanageable. We helped her challenge charges, access emergency support, and begin the process of moving to a safer, more stable meter.

Another case involved a man caring for his partner, who is undergoing cancer treatment. He was overwhelmed by more than £5,000 of long-standing energy debt. Through months of advocacy, the entire balance was wiped and his account now shows a credit, an outcome he described as “life-changing.”

What Our Support Has Achieved So Far

So far, we have:

  • Supported 692 households with tailored, one-to-one energy advice
  • Completed 441 benefit entitlement checks, ensuring households are not missing income they’re entitled to
  • Helped 166 residents submit benefit claims

These checks and claims have brought:

  • £234,134.21 confirmed back into residents’ pockets
  • £208,554.15 pending, awaiting decision or processing

Alongside this, we’ve also been able to secure

  • £393,850.21 in additional financial support, including fuel vouchers, food vouchers, warm items, and hardship funds

These figures aren’t just numbers, they represent households who can now heat more than just one room, feel empowered to challenge their energy company, top up a prepayment meter, or just feel more comfortable in their home.

Partnership Spotlight: West Midlands Multibank

As part of our wider partnership work, some of the BrumEnergy team recently visited the West Midlands Multibank, a regional project led by BVSC redistributing surplus household goods to families who need them most.

During our visit, advisors saw firsthand the kinds of practical items available: bedding, kitchen essentials, and home goods that can make daily life more stable and manageable. Where BrumEnergy helps improve the warmth and safety of a home, the Multibank helps ensure families have the essential items to live with dignity.

Household Support Fund (HSF)

Another way Birmingham families can access support this winter is through the Household Support Fund (HSF), which offers a one-off payment of £200 to help with essential costs such as energy, food, or household items. BVSC can help eligible households access this payment quickly, providing an additional route to reduce the impact of fuel poverty and make homes warmer and safer.

Fuel poverty affects health, wellbeing, and daily life. Every referral can make a real difference. If you work with patients or clients struggling to heat their homes, please refer them so they can access tailored advice, financial support, or household essentials to stay healthy this winter.

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