VCMA - Scope Disability Energy Support with water advice service

Building on the learnings of the partnership with Scope and the insights gathered from DES, the cost-of-living research and the SGN winter pilot scheme, NGN have reviewed and adapted the programme to increase the support provision for disabled people.

The partnership aims to;

Extend the DES partnership from May 2024 to March 2026

Increase the size of the DES team to enable more disabled people to access dedicated, skilled energy and benefits advisers

Provide crisis support including energy credit for those on credit meters and heated blankets for those who would benefit from targeted warmth

Provide carbon monoxide alarms and information packs in inclusive formats

Provide a targeted marketing campaigns that promotes the Priority Services Register and the DES service twice a year with a focus on winter resilience support and planning for disabled people

Provide training to the Scope general advice team so that they can support more disabled people with energy safeguarding support and triage to either self-service or into DES should the customer lack the skills or confidence to self-serve.