Energy advice service

SHINE London, an award-winning free energy advice service, has secured funding to support 1,000 households with energy advice, home visits, and energy debt support. The project will continue until 31 March 2026 and is managed by the London Borough of Islington. It is accessible to residents of North, East, or West London boroughs.

The funding comes from a national project called Warm Homes Healthy Futures, coordinated by National Energy Action and funded by gas distribution networks (Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, SGN, and Wales and West Utilities).

To qualify for the service, patients must have a health condition worsened by cold or mouldy homes and must be referred by a health or social care professional.

Some examples of eligible health conditions include (this list is not extensive):

• A cardiovascular condition
• Respiratory conditions
• Limited mobility
• Immunosuppression
• Mental Health
• Sickle cell disease
• Cancer

Here is a summary of the fully funded support provided to the service user through the programme:

• Advice on energy-saving behaviours: using their heating systems properly and setting heating controls, energy-saving tips (further details available on request)
• How to understand their bills and annual energy usage
• An energy comparison through an Ofgem-recommended site (when the market is competitive)
• Damp and mould advice
• Smart meter information
• Water company discounts
• Priority service registration
• Food and fuel vouchers
• Benefit checks
• Boiler and appliance servicing
• White goods grants
• CO advice and free CO alarm if required
• Energy supplier mediation and complaints process with billing and metering problems (not Energy Ombudsman application)
• Energy debt trust fund applications
• Energy efficiency grant advice and application support
• Signposting to Lightning Reach portal for assessment for more than 2000 support and grant schemes (where digitally included)
• Ad hoc referrals to other local and national support organisations
• Home visits to install small measures such as:
  • LED lighting
  • Draught proofing
  • Radiator reflectors
  • Hot water tank jackets
  • Standby savers
  • Film glazing
  • Energy monitors
  • Water-saving shower heads
  • Water-saving kitchen tap adaptors

ACTION FOR FACILITATORS

To allow your practice to make a referral, please

·       Upload the referral form attached into EMIS (if you require support with this please contact your GP IT Facilitator)

·       Allow completed forms to be sent to shine@islington.gov.uk

If you have any questions regarding the service, please contact shine@islington.gov.uk

You may have also seen that there is a series of Fuel Poverty webinars available. Click here to see dates and sign up.