How can I give away my Energy Bill Support Scheme money?

dawnriser

I have two electricity suppliers. One for my house and a separate one for my lockup garage.
The garage bill is small. I have a fluorescent light and I occasionally boil a kettle.
Typically the bill is just the standing charge. About £16/month by direct debit to EON.

So my latest bill is the first since the Energy Bill Support Scheme was introduced on Oct 1st. It shows a credit of £51.11. This credit will build up each month for at least the next 6 months. That gives me an estimated credit balance with EON by next April of approx. £295 - enough to pay my garage energy bills for the next 18 months at current rates.

Presumable there are only a few users like me hence the anomaly in the Energy Bill Support Scheme. I could just sit back and be thankful for the windfall but there are people in poverty who need this money more than I do. Where can I give the difference each month. I’m thinking I could donate £16/month for the next two years at this rate. Any suggestions?

ariarnia

that would be a very nice thing to do. we support a local animal shelter that has had a lot of extra animals to help since people got bored of the pets they got during covid or now can't afford to look after. but if there isnt a special cause that you care about in particular you could contact your local food back and ask if they would accept cash donations or what they are short of? some are running heating banks where they can give vouchers for pre pay users to use on heating if you wanted to keep it for the intended purposes. 

SuzeQStan

https://www.trusselltrust.org/

Food banks are always grateful for donations - & their buying power gets them more than outright food donations which individuals can make.

you can set up a regular direct debit as well from the link 
😊

badger09

What a kind gesture. 

How about a regular donation to Shelter or Centrepoint? Being homeless is challenging in the summer but unimaginable in the winter. 

ariarnia

what a shame such a nice thread has received such a nasty response. i think its a lovely idea and a nice oppertunity for people to suggest causes that are important to them or that they support. 

[Deleted User]

The Trussell Trust gets my vote if you want to target this towards someone who needs the household budget support more than you do. You can make a one of donation, or maybe set up a monthly direct debit?

flossy_splodge

My vote would be to find out from such as Age concern if there are any elderly people around you who are struggling to heat and feed as they are often the ones who lose out because either they don't know what help is available or pride means they don't like to ask.

They keep getting ignored in my view, very few are actually well off and not needing support.

Enjoy whatever you decide, great thing to think of doing.

Spoonie_Turtle

In the spirit of it being for energy, perhaps National Energy Action https://www.nea.org.uk/support-us/

I echo the sentiment above, wherever you donate it, it's a great thing to think of doing 👍

QrizB

SuzeQStan said:

Food banks are always grateful for donations - & their buying power gets them more than outright food donations which individuals can make.

I've recently Gift Aided a sum to a local food bank and soup kitchen via Just Giving.

Gift Aid (if you're eligible to use it) means they get a Government top-up so it goes even further.

lisyloo

If you care about animals, the dog rescues are full to bursting at the moment.
many Dogs in Romania May die this year in the cold and there are injured and abandoned animals in Ukraine.
there is a ban on bringing dogs in to the uk from both countries due to one rogue operator meaning the rescues are full (in the public pounds if the dogs don’t get picked up by owners they are put to sleep to make room).

so much need.

thankyou for thinking of others.

[Deleted User]

This may be a daft or naive question, but are there pet food banks? Or charities that support people struggling to afford to keep their pets? Not something I'd thought of before but it would be unbearable for most pet owners to have to find it a new home because they couldn't afford food, vets bills or whatever. A bit like taking you own child to the orphanage - absolutely horrible. I don't know why but I never really thought of this before.