Our Empowered by Energy project
Empowered by Energy is a unique energy awareness project empowering newly recognised refugees to the UK, often struggling to survive on extremely low incomes, to overcome the language barrier, understand new energy systems and save money. The workshops are delivered face-to-face and online by National Energy Action, with expert partners from the Refugee Council and the British Red Cross, who work closely with refugees.
Helping refugees and asylum seekers
Coming from different climates, refugees won’t automatically know how to keep a home warm, read their energy meter, set up an account or bleed radiators.
The workshops build a self-sustaining support network to embed useful life skills and make communities more resilient.
Without such support, refugees and asylum seekers can quickly find themselves owing hundreds of pounds to an energy supplier they didn’t know they had. The workshops give them the confidence to contact their energy company and get the support they need, take control of their energy bills and join their Priority Services Register. For example energy companies provide translation services and tariff support, such as the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
‘Everything is new for asylum seekers and refugees. On top of everything else they often end up with higher energy bills. Working with our partners, National Energy Action has support them with energy advice which they can pass on to their families and communities.
Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action
Empowering Energy Champions
The workshops help to create confident ‘energy champions’ who can share practical tips with others on sustaining safe and warm homes throughout bitterly cold British winters, without unnecessarily falling into energy debt.