New scheme to help North Solihull residents facing fuel poverty

A NEW scheme to provide vital support to people struggling to heat their homes is being extended to the Kingfisher Foodbank.
It was announced this week that pre-payment meter vouchers for gas or electricity would be made available to those who use the Smith's Wood facility.
The scheme has been trialled in four areas around the UK, including Durham and the Wirral, with over 7,000 vouchers issued over the course of the past 12 months.
The Trussell Trust charity, which is running the Fuel Bank initiative in conjunction with energy giant npower, said it had made a massive difference to people who would otherwise face a stark choice between "heating or eating."
David McAuley, the trust's chief executive, said: "In winter, foodbank clients come to us having to choose between going hungry or heating their homes, and in summer, we find some people come to us saying they can’t afford to heat the food parcels we give them.
"It’s heart-breaking when people in desperate situations try to give back food like pasta and soup simply because they can’t afford to cook it.
"Combining the distribution of food parcels with npower Fuel Bank vouchers will ensure that many thousands of people at foodbanks get the help they need to feed themselves and stay warm."
The Fuel Banks should be up-and-running within the next few weeks.