Herald - Issue 419

v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 10TH MARCH v 17th February 2022 • The HERALD • Page 61 ASK A PROFESSIONAL The UK’s gas distribution networks are supporting over 17,500 vulnerable people using Citizens Advice’s Energy Advice Programme as part of a new collaborative partnership. Launched in January and running for the next 15 months, the partnership will see Citizens Advice raise awareness of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and reduce CO risk for over 17,500 vulnerable people by incorporating CO awareness and safety discussions into their well established and successful Energy Advice Programme. We’re also trialling CO and energy advice packs for 2,500 people most in need that will provide follow up advice and information, a thermometer card and a CO alarm. rough our partnership, Citizens Advice are also able to extend their Energy Advice Programme to an additional 5,000 vulnerable people, providing in-depth energy advice and support sessions for people who need it most. e opportunity for the partnership originally arose from SGN’s work with the Arun and Chichester branch of Citizens Advice. Following discussions with the other gas distribution networks, the partnership is led by SGN and supported by Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities. It’s being funded using the collaborative Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance provided to the networks by Ofgem for the GD2 price control period. Rob Gray, Director of Stakeholder Relations and Communications at SGN, said: “This support is more vital than ever to keep those households and families most in need safe and warm. We and all the other GDNs are extremely excited to be working with Citizens Gas Networks Partnering with Citizens Advice to Support Over 17,500 Vulnerable People by SGN Advice, one of the most well-known, highly regarded, and trusted advice organisations. We know this partnership and the support provided by the Energy Advice Programme is going to make a huge difference to communities all across England and Wales.” Andrew Seager, Executive Director at Citizens Advice, said: “We are delighted to be working collaboratively with the gas distribution networks in England and Wales to deliver the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance. This new partnership allows us to support more people needing help through our energy services across the Citizens Advice network, and it will ensure that communities can access reliable carbon monoxide information and energy advice.” For more information on how this partnership could help you or someone you know, visit your local Citizens Advice. To nd a Citizens Advice near you, visit: www.citizensadvice.org.uk Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Adult Services and Public Health, Councillor Liz Fairhurst, has approved funding for innovative local projects across the county which aim to support people - speci cally anyone deemed to be clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable, to recover from the past year and focus on the future. Councillor Fairhurst said: “The pandemic has had a major impact on many aspects of our lives, but for some, getting going again and back to a semblance of normality is proving very difficult. This grants programme is designed to assist local organisations in their work to support vulnerable people, to help them recover from the impacts of the pandemic and return to more normal ways of life, in a way that is safe.” e Getting Going Again Fund of £950,000 is divided into 11 lots, aligned to the county’s 11 district and borough councils, with the amount of money available dependent on the number of clinically extremely vulnerable residents living in each area. To help fund this particular set of grants, Hampshire County Council will use a proportion of the wider £4million funding from Government to support people in Hampshire who are clinically extremely vulnerable or clinically vulnerable. Organisations interested in applying for grants visit: www.hants.gov.uk/ community/grants/grants-list/get-going- again Grants for Vulnerable People in Hampshire