First ever Fuel Bank opens in Hull
It's so that people don't have to choose between 'heating and eating'.
The first ever Fuel Bank launches in Hull today.
The scheme by Npower gives Foodbank users with pre-payment meters vouchers of £30 to help them top up their gas and electricity.
It's so that they don't have to choose between 'heating and eating'.
Over the last year, around 5,000 three-day emergency food parcels have been handed out in Hull.
More than 1,200 of the supplies were given to children.
Andy from Hull started using Hull Foodbank after he lost his job a couple of months ago.
He is among the first to benefit from the new fuel scheme and told Viking it means he can now put food on the table for his family:
"When I have paid everything out, by the end of the month I am left with just over £40 to pay for things like gas, electric and water so it is quite poor and this should be a big help for me.
"It's difficult when you have worked all of your life and then find yourself in this situation as it's not one that you think you'll ever find yourself in.
"The fuel vouchers are a good peace of mind and now I don't have to worry as much about gas and electric and I don't have to budget for that out of my own money and I can rely on the scheme. I have grandchildren who often stay with me on a weekend and I can now put the money I have towards their food aswell."
Andy says people mustn't be ashamed to ask for help:
"I now look at life in a different way and you have got to keep your head up. There are people out there to help you, you just need to look for the help otherwise you won't get it."
Sarah Sidwell, manager of Hull Foodbank, said:
“ We are thrilled to be partnering with npower to start the Fuel bank in Hull. Many of the people we help live in homes where there is a pre-payment meter and already explain to our team that they are forced to make the difficult de-cision on where limited budgets are spent and the Fuel Bank now means they will be able to cook the food we provide. Fuel Bank is adding another ‘string to our bow’ as we continue to offer additional help and information to the local people we help.”
Guy Esnouf, npower’s Director of Corporate Responsibility said:
“Our first step was to trial the Fuel Bank in four areas last year. This proved the concept works - getting the right support to the people who need it most. We’re now expanding to ten new areas across the UK and Hull – including opening Fuel Banks in Scotland and Wales – meaning we can reach thousands more people in crisis.”