Charities hit hardest by spiralling energy costs are facing a cliff edge of support unless the government continues subsidising bills past March 2023.
We have urgently appealed for the government to ensure voluntary organisations get continued support from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS), outlining the risks for communities if the current support package stops.
It's vital that members raise their voices in this call to government. We need to express the critical situation facing communities up and down the country, and outline to MPs what will happen if charities facing exponentially rising energy costs aren’t supported.
We've drafted a letter that you can download and use as a framework to write to MPs, which you can add your personal stories to.
Charities are particularly vulnerable to rising energy costs because of the nature of the services they run and how they generate income. They can’t simply put up their prices like a private business might do.
Many members facing exponentially rising energy costs have told us that without ongoing government support they will be forced to significantly reduce services, sell essential community buildings or even close completely. This will have a devastating impact on people and communities and simply can’t be an option.
I would urge members to take action. We are doing all we can to highlight this issue at a national level, but we need you to highlight the real stories on the frontline and the challenges you are facing to meet the demands of the people you serve to your MPs. If we can raise a collective voice we have chance of being heard and getting the support organisations need.
NCVO has also co-signed a letter, with the Civil Society Group – a coalition of voluntary infrastructure bodies which represent and support 165,758 charities across the UK – to Grant Shapps MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to highlight the cliff edge that charities are facing.