The Young Energy Professionals Forum partners with Fuel Bank Foundation to support those in fuel crisis

The Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Forum is partnering up with Fuel Bank Foundation to support families across Britain who are struggling to pay their energy bills.

With the wider cost of living crisis hitting the UK, now more than ever households are struggling to pay their bills, leaving vulnerable customers at risk of losing their energy supply, even with support in place from industry.

Fuel Bank has helped over half a million people since its launch in 2016, but it is estimated that should bills increase as expected in April, more than 6.5 million people will be in fuel stress. The foundation provides top up vouchers for families across Britain, preventing self-disconnection and offering two weeks’ worth of fuel for heat, light and power.

Through a variety of fundraising activities, publications and events, the partnership will make use of the YEP Forum’s wide platform to champion the work of the charity.

As well as collaborating in fundraising efforts to help families and household across Britain, the YEP Forum and Fuel Bank Foundation will also work together to raise awareness of the necessary work needed to help provide essential support for those most in need.

As part of its objectives for 2022, the YEP Forum set out to partner with a charity for the first time, and wanted to support an energy-based organisation in their efforts to raise awareness and help consumers in fuel poverty.

 YEP Forum Chair and Senior Business Consultant for CGI, Caroline Gundu said: 

‘I am very excited to announce that for the first time the YEP Forum has partnered with a charity to raise awareness on industry wide issues. Throughout this year during our YEP Events we will be fundraising and raising awareness of the great work the Foundation achieves by helping households who are most struggling to power their homes. This is something the YEP Forum is very passionate about and we can’t wait to work alongside them throughout this year.’

Matthew Cole who leads Fuel Bank Foundation said: 

“We are extremely grateful to the Young Energy Professionals for choosing Fuel Bank Foundation as its nominated charity. With energy bills due to rise over the coming months, this partnership could not have come at a more crucial time.

Their fundraising and support will help those families across Britain who are struggling to keep warm or are living without heat, light and power, as well as allow us to build awareness of the situation we are addressing, and the solutions, options and choices we have to make in a key community of future leaders of the sector.”

Energy UK CEO Emma Pinchbeck said:

“This is a very meaningful partnership for the industry at this time. Our late Director of Policy, Audrey Gallacher, who recently passed away, worked tirelessly to champion consumer rights, not least as a Trustee for the Fuel Bank Foundation.  She was also a mentor and inspiration to many young energy professionals, particularly those from unconventional backgrounds in the industry.

It gives me real hope for the future of the energy sector to see our young professionals championing the needs of vulnerable people, and it is a particularly appropriate partnership at this time.”