Re-distribution of £400 refund

The_Green_Hornet

Mine is going to the local off licence. Job done and alcohol duty is included.

GingerTim

uk1 said:

GingerTim said:

Mine is going to the local food bank. Job done, and Gift Aid included as @wolvoman notes.

You might be interested in giving a glance to The Felix Trust.   This route to “food bank” support will give much more leverage to your contributions.  They basically receive free food from growers, manufacturers and supermarkets and redistribute it all.  So they supply free food to food banks, and schools for free onward distribution on “open market days” where those that need it pick up bags of fresh food and have their own kitchens where they convert the free ingredients into cooked nourishing meals.  They are largely staffed by volunteers and although started in `London their model is expanding out throughout the UK.  And I like that people that need food help don’t have to beg or are limited by being put forward or limited.  I think it also helps with homelessness and keeping warm because food is a greater priority to most people that need help than rent or heating.

In summary your contribution will feed a multiple of the number of people you reach via simple food bank contributions. 

And gift aid is available. 

Many thanks, I'll definitely be looking into this!

uk1

GingerTim said:

uk1 said:

GingerTim said:

Mine is going to the local food bank. Job done, and Gift Aid included as @wolvoman notes.

You might be interested in giving a glance to The Felix Trust.   This route to “food bank” support will give much more leverage to your contributions.  They basically receive free food from growers, manufacturers and supermarkets and redistribute it all.  So they supply free food to food banks, and schools for free onward distribution on “open market days” where those that need it pick up bags of fresh food and have their own kitchens where they convert the free ingredients into cooked nourishing meals.  They are largely staffed by volunteers and although started in `London their model is expanding out throughout the UK.  And I like that people that need food help don’t have to beg or are limited by being put forward or limited.  I think it also helps with homelessness and keeping warm because food is a greater priority to most people that need help than rent or heating.

In summary your contribution will feed a multiple of the number of people you reach via simple food bank contributions. 

And gift aid is available. 

Many thanks, I'll definitely be looking into this!

For what it’s worth, I give them £21+ each month gift-aided up to £25 monthly plus lump sums when they ask.  My monthly donation feeds 5 people every day and I feel a tremendous sense of appreciation that whilst I am fortunate enough to be warm and fed and safe that they have provided me with a way of feeding five people every time I eat.

If you take a look you will see that Felix secure excellent quality fresh food and so on any given day people are eating extraordinary food - sometimes with asparagus and strawberries and all this stuff would otherwise go to waste.  They have simply provided the link and distribution between the sources of other wasted food and the channels providing it.  I have even seen them send an army of volunteers to clear out a crop  farmers have indicated that they would plough back because the market was uneconomic to harvest.

It is genuinely wonderful work and I do so hope you join me in supporting them. 

Thanks again.

Kat78MFW

Have just looked at https://thefelixproject.org/about/our-story and thank you for the suggestion. I have been feeling guilty about receiving the £400 when we don't need it and we are in the very lucky minority still on an old pre-price hike cheap fix until June next year. I had thought about donating to an energy charity but couldn't find one locally that seemed to be re-distributing the COL payments. I love the thought that The Felix Project is reducing waste and helping people who would be going hungry. I'm going to set up a direct debit for 8 months to pay the £400 and the £150 Council tax rebate already received across to this charity. 
Thank you 

DE_612183

brewerdave said:

Funnily enough I was musing about this earlier today .For example our local children's hospice has made it on to the National news because their energy bill could go up to £600k pa. I suspect a lot of people would like to see their £400 go direct to this sort of good cause without touching their accounts BUT will they make a £400 charitable donation instead ??

If thats TY hafran I was thinking the same thing when I read the article - they do so much good - I was thinking of whatever credit I'm in at the end of Feb I just get the refund and give it to them.

flossy_splodge

Re the £400 help from Government, I hope this is not considered off topic but can anyone tell me the answer to the following: I know someone who is on the old style prepayment meter which means they have to apply to their provider for vouchers to use.

In this case they are having to leave the property where the usage has taken place on 7th October as owners wish to reposess on their return to uk.

The problem is that they have managed to find an alternative property but bills are included. As the £400 is a retrospective payment for usage already incurred, is there a way they can 'cash' the vouchers and put towards their new rental?

Otherwise they will lose this support which is vtal as they are both low paid.

Thanks for any help.

flossy_splodge

*bump*  thanks

Krakkkers

The idea behind the cap and the £400 is so money is distributed by being spent in the general economy rather than most of peoples money going to energy companies.
Redistribute by spending it.

MWT

flossy_splodge said:

As the £400 is a retrospective payment for usage already incurred, is there a way they can 'cash' the vouchers and put towards their new rental?

Otherwise they will lose this support which is vtal as they are both low paid.

Thanks for any help.

The £400 is not retrospective, it is designed to be applied to bills over the 6 months from October onwards in 6 payments of £66/67, so if this person is leaving on 7th October they will not qualify.

However, there is talk of a separate fund which they will be able to apply to for support which is intended to cover those paying their energy bills as part of their rent.

There are no further details about that at the moment.

flossy_splodge

Sorry but I have had it confirmed by BG that the money is in effect a retrospective payment for high costs already incurred?