We understand that some customers may be finding it harder to manage their energy bills. If you’re struggling or think your bill isn’t right, please contact your energy supplier directly. We partner with the below suppliers to help vulnerable customers. Complete an application online with us today on www.charisgrants.com/individuals/#schemes-open

Alternatively, you can contact our partners directly using the info below:

• E.ON Energy – E.ON customers have now become customers of E.ON Next.  All new applications should be made through the E.ON Next Energy Fund. If you require further assistance, please see below for support through E.ON Next.
• EDF Energy – visit edfenergy.com/for-home/help-support/help-centre or call 0333 009 6992
• E.ON Next – visit www.eonnext.com/help or call 0808 501 5200 or email [email protected]
• Scottish Power – visit scottishpower.co.uk/getintouch or call 0800 027 0072
• British Gas – visit britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/ or call 0333 202 9802
• SSE – Visit sse.co.uk/help/online-services or call 0345 070 7373
• OVO – visit https://help.ovoenergy.com/or call 0330 303 5063
• Utilita – Visit https://utilita.co.uk/help

If your supplier isn’t listed above then, currently we don’t work with them. However, you can keep checking our funds on www.charisgrants.com/individuals/#schemes-open to see if funding becomes available. You can also visit their website directly for advice.

For the latest government financial support advice please visit here.

Alternatively, anyone can get free advice from the below organisations:

Citizens Advice – www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
StepChange Debt Charity – Freephone 0800 138 1111 or www.stepchange.org/contact-us.aspx
Turn2Us National Charity – www.turn2us.org.uk/Support-Us
National Debt Line – Freephone 0808 808 4000 or nationaldebtline.co.uk
Advice UK – Freephone 0300 777 0107 or adviceuk.org.uk
Payplan – Freephone 0800 280 2816 or payplan.co.uk

Charis administer funds on behalf of some energy companies to help people who need support with energy bills, freestanding appliances, boiler repairs or boiler replacements. The funds we currently administer are:

• EDF Customer Support Fund – If you have outstanding debt and are a current customer of EDF you can apply for debt relief. You can also apply separately or with the debt relief for replacement energy efficient freestanding appliances.
• E.ON Next Energy Fund – If you have outstanding debt and are a current customer of E.ON Next you can apply for debt relief. You can also apply separately or with the debt relief for replacement energy efficient freestanding appliances.
• Charis Let’s Talk Energy Fund – SSE part of the OVO Energy Group have confirmed their support to households who may be struggling through our Let’s Talk Energy Fund.

Complete an application online with us today on our individuals page.

It can take up to 45 minutes to complete an online application if you have all the information to hand. Start your application today on our individuals page.

Due to high demand applications can take several weeks to process. Please keep checking the Charis website or your email inbox for application status updates. If we need more information from you, or have made a decision, we will contact you. Please make sure you have provided your supplier with up to date meter readings as this will make the process quicker.

If you’re using a mobile phone or tablet to upload documents, it’s useful to turn the device sideways (landscape) in order to fully view the screen for the file classification option to appear. Make sure you upload each document individually. Don’t create a ‘zip file’ as this will not upload. Alternatively, you can email or freepost your evidence using the information below:

EDF Customer Support Fund – [email protected]

Address: Freepost EDF CUSTOMER SUPPORT FUND

E.ON Next Energy Fund – [email protected]

Address: Freepost EON NEXT ENERGY FUND

Let’s Talk Energy Fund – [email protected]

For more helpful tips please view our Application Advice brochure.

If you’re unable to upload copies of the documents using the portal then, another option is to reply to the email we sent and attach the documents. Remember to attach your documents before sending. Something else you can do is post photocopies (not originals) to the freepost address given. You don’t need to use a stamp as the postage has been paid.

For more helpful tips please visit our brochure.

The information you have sent may not be acceptable, please double check the below and send it to us again:

• Check it has your full name and current address
• Check it’s no older than 12 months
• Check it shows your health diagnosis
• Check any payments show the amount and calculations
• Check your email or letter there may be a specific reason as to why we cannot accept the information
• Check the to see if all pages of the documents are shown

We recommend all applicants complete a Budget Sheet. However, for some of our funds it’s mandatory. You can do this with a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) approved Adviser, to find one near you go to www.fca.org.uk. All FCA approved citizens advice advisers provide a service which is free.

Let them know that you’ve applied, they may be able to add a hold to your account while your application is being processed. If you’ve been awarded you may need to contact your energy supplier, to set up a payment plan. Check your provisional award letter or email for details.

A provisional payment plan will temporarily replace any existing payment plan you may have. It’ll help prove that you can pay for your ongoing energy usage before being awarded. The energy suppliers want to help you to manage your ongoing usage to prevent you from getting into debt again.  All the provisional payments are dealt with by your energy supplier.

The payment plan is set up between you and your supplier, they will explain when your first and last payment is due. Remember to keep a note of this, and when payments have been successfully made, we’ll let you know when your account will be credited with the award amount.

When you’ve made the final payment within the provisional period it’s important to continue with your payment plan to in order to pay for your ongoing energy usage to prevent getting into debt in the future.

If your supplier goes out of business, Ofgem’s safety net will ensure you’ll always have an energy supply, click here for more information.’

Unfortunately we are unable to assist everyone. If you have applied with us or you do not meet any of the criteria but still need further support please see the below:

Alternatively, anyone can get free advice from the below organisations:

Citizens Advice – www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
StepChange Debt Charity – Freephone 0800 138 1111 or www.stepchange.org/contact-us.aspx
Turn2Us National Charity – www.turn2us.org.uk/Support-Us
National Debt Line – Freephone 0808 808 4000 or nationaldebtline.co.uk
Advice UK – Freephone 0300 777 0107 or adviceuk.org.uk
Payplan – Freephone 0800 280 2816 or payplan.co.uk

The Let’s Talk Energy Fund is a winter scheme. If you are successful, there will be a limited time to accept delivery and installation of your household appliance before the scheme closes.

Charis partner with some energy suppliers to help provide freestanding appliances to customers in desperate need through energy funding schemes. Complete an application online with us today on our individuals page.

If your energy supplier isn’t listed on the individual’s page you can register your interest through our Let’s Talk Energy Fund. When funding becomes available, we’ll let you know.

If you’ve been awarded an appliance, you’ll be contacted to arrange delivery within 10 working days. This will be by text message, telephone or email. There will be some questions to ensure that delivery and connection can happen safely and legally. If you’ve already arranged a delivery date and wish to change this, please contact the supplier.

The fund only provides standard freestanding household appliances. We cannot change the size, make, model or type of appliance provided. The funds are put together to help customers who are in desperate need of an appliance therefore, we cannot accept customer requests, changes, or additional payments towards other appliances.

The funds are unable to award appliances without the agreement of delivery and connection. Appliances must be connected at the point of delivery by a member of the supplier’s delivery team. If the appliance cannot be connected, it will not be left at your property. The delivery would need to be rearranged, providing connection can happen at a later date.

It would depend on the reason and circumstance. We’d need to check that the new arrangements meet the funding obligations. Please email us on [email protected] or call 01733 421069 to talk about this further and we’ll see what we can do.

To rearrange delivery of your appliance please contact the supplier. If your delivery failed because connection couldn’t take place, please make sure any recommendations by the delivery team are made so that connection can happen. The funds can only authorise three delivery attempts. If the appliance has not been successfully delivered and connected after a third attempt, we’ll need to withdraw the award. This would not affect any other awards on the application.

You’ll need to contact the supplier to report the fault, they should be able to arrange a repair if the appliance is still under warranty. They may need some information such as a serial number, but they will tell you where to find this. If they need proof of purchase, please request this by emailing [email protected]

Let us know as soon as possible by emailing [email protected] or calling 01733 421069. We’ll withdraw the appliance on your behalf but, please make sure this what you want because once it has been withdrawn, we cannot reinstate it. If you have other awards on your application, they will not be affected by this decision.

Please make sure you are at home on the agreed date to receive your new appliance.

A small lorry will be delivering your appliance so there needs to be space to park nearby and any parking permits provided.

Make sure there is a clear pathway through the home to the room of choice.

Check you have the relevant gas and electric connections for a new cooker. Electric cookers need an isolation switch and usually a hardwired cooker outlet.

There should be no wallpaper, fabric, shelving, cupboards or electrical sockets directly above or to the immediate side of the cooker.

Check you have the relevant pipe work and electricity connection for a washing machine. The standard length from the back of the machine is 1m.

All pipes and sockets should be easily accessible and not blocked by cupboards or units.

Please check you have a working gas and electricity supply and sufficient credit on a pre-payment meter.

Remember- the delivery team cannot make any alterations to your existing plumbing or electrical connections.

Please make sure you are at home on the agreed date.

A small lorry will be collecting your appliance so there needs to be space to park nearby and any parking permits provided.

Make sure the appliance is empty and is not leaking water.

Empty and defrost your old fridge, freezer or fridge-freezer before the collection date.

Ensure the washing machine is empty and fully drained.

Check there is sufficient access for the appliance to be removed and loaded.

Charis administer grants on behalf of some housing associations to offer a range of services to help people be the best they can be. We currently partner with:

• Clarion Futures– Clarion Futures is the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group. It’s designed to support residents and the wider community in a range of employment and training opportunities. Visit myclarionhousing.com/help-and-guidance/Jobs-skills-and-training/grants-for-work-and-business to find out more, or speak to an Employment Support Officer (ESO) or email [email protected] and they will help you with your training, employment or business journey.

• Sovereign – Sovereign grants invest in people who live in Sovereign homes and communities. They provide the tools to transform lives for the better and build a positive future. Find out what’s available for you and your community when you log into your account at https://my.sovereign.org.uk/communities

Charis partner with the Energy Suppliers, Fuel Bank Foundation, selected food banks, advice agencies and housing associations to help support vulnerable customers by giving them access to energy when they most need it.

You can, however this is a referral process and the application must be done through a selected food bank or advice agency or housing association. Tell the person referring you who your energy supplier is as this will affect the type of voucher you can receive. If you’re unsure who is authorised in your area to help, please visit your local Citizens Advice.

There are two types of voucher, so depending which one you have, will depend on where you can go to redeem it. You’ll need your email or SMS message voucher code with you and your meter key or card.

• Pay point voucher – You’ll need to visit your local convenience store or supermarket.Paypoint have a webpage which provides details of stores who have recently redeemed Energy or Cash vouchers and will be familiar with the process- https://consumer.paypoint.com/cashout
• Post office voucher – You’ll need to visit your local post office or a post office counter in a newsagents or other local convenience store. Paypoint and Post Office vouchers cannot be redeemed at Payzone outlets

British Gas and Scottish Gas customers can only use Post Office vouchers so double check who your energy supplier is. If you’ve got an incorrect voucher type and need to change it then you need to speak to the person who submitted the application and they will contact us directly to make a voucher change request for you.

If the application was submitted on Friday after 5pm, you may not receive it until Monday. Have you double checked your text messages, email junk or spam folder? Speak to the person who submitted the application and make sure the correct contact details were added as this is where the voucher would’ve been sent too. If for any reason the contact information on the application is incorrect, they will contact us directly to make a voucher change request for you.

Warm Home Discount 2022/23 is a government scheme where participating energy supplier’s credit £150 (including VAT) onto your electricity bill to help towards the cost of your energy bills, click here for more information.

If you live in England or Wales, you do not need to make an application, the DWP will tell your supplier directly if you qualify for £150 credit towards your bills. If you live in Scotland, check your energy supplier’s website for information on how to apply.

If you’re a permanent resident living in a Park Home in England, Scotland or Wales and pay your electricity direct to your park site owner you can apply for a £150 payment to help towards the cost of your energy bills. Applications are considered on a first come first serve basis. Check here for more information. ​

Charis partner with some Energy Companies to help qualify customers living in Scotland for the rebate of £150. We specialise in checking evidence for customers on behalf of our partners. Check below to see if we partner with your Energy provider. If we’ve contacted you asking for evidence, you must email us your evidence to be checked.

Don’t worry as there’s people you can contact for help. You can contact Pension Service or the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for benefit payment evidence. Please click here to request proof of a benefit letter. You can also contact your employer or payment provider for income evidence, such as wage slips.

If you’re struggling to stay warm this winter, please make sure you contact your Energy supplier to see if any other help is available, alternatively you can visit Citizens Advice or the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Click here for other help.

If your application for Warm Home Discount Scotland 2022/23 was successful, you’ll get your payment by 31st March 2023. Usually, you’ll see a Warm Home Discount credit on your bill or statement. All payments are made by participating energy suppliers. We don’t get involved in payments unless you’ve been awarded as part of Park Homes Warm Home Discount.

The £150 payment will have your WHD reference number as the payment reference on your bank statement.

Thank you for responding to our request to supply documents to support your Warm Home Discount application. The Charis team are now working closely with your energy supplier to process your application. If we need more information, we will contact you, otherwise you’ll receive a decision by the end of March at the latest.

Ofgem announced in 2022 that the scheme would continue to run up until 2026. If you live in England or Wales the DWP will continue to tell your supplier directly if you qualify for £150 credit towards your bills.

If you live in Scotland, check your energy supplier’s website for information regarding qualifying criteria and how to apply.