Walsall charity launches energy app help for 'terrified' residents
A new app giving advice and help for people worrying about impending soaring energy bills has been launched by a Walsall charity.
Ryecroft Community Hub developed the app, available on the Google Play store, after anticipating the “tidal wave” through concerns raised by people they were supporting during the pandemic.
It says people are "panicking" and "terrified" about huge increases energy bills.
Managers Dave Taylor and Paul Staples have also gained qualifications which enables them to carry out energy assessments in residents’ homes.
The app is packed with information and advice, as well as links to charities and organisations people can turn to for help. It has also been translated into a number of different languages.
Since it was launched earlier this week, it has been attracting ‘five star’ reviews from users.
Mr Taylor said: “It all started when we were doing food parcels in lockdown. We drove around, talking to people and did over 2,500 parcels.
“Everyone was worried about furlough so I spoke to the board at the charity and said there was a tidal wave coming.
“We did our energy qualifications in August last year so we could do energy assessments. People were worried back then before this energy crisis started.
“Walsall Council has been really good and supportive. They’ve given us some money so we created the app, which translates into multiple languages, and it gives advice and has links to Citizens Advice, charities such as Fuel Bank Foundation, so people can get help.
“We’ve also got an energy saving leaflet on the app to download onto devices.
“We’ve been going to people’s houses when they’ve been referred to us from Crisis Support and doing assessments in their homes.
“The council gave us a few thousand pounds to spend on measures such as LED light bulbs so we can give them to help a little bit.
“We’ve helped around 200 people so far. We started the project in September last year and delivered the energy leaflets to over 1,000 people.
“The app got launched last week and has been downloaded a few times and earned five-star reviews on Google. We want to get to as many people as you can.”
Mr Taylor said focusing on energy help and support is now dominating the work the charity does each week due to the increasing anxiety people have about paying their bills.
He said: “People were worried during the pandemic for understandable various reasons.
“They were worried about their finances and we could see what was around the corner so tried to do our best to prepare for it.
“The overriding feeling (of residents) is of helplessness. They don’t know where to turn, don’t know what to do.
“People are desperate. We’ve had people crying and in such a state, we’ve had to refer people to mental health crisis teams. They’re terrified.
“These are people who’ve never been in debt in their lives. They are panicking. We go to houses and get the same story: ‘I don’t know what I am going to do. Where am I going to get the money from?’
“It isn’t just people on Universal Credit. It is people who are working. People who have got families.
“Inflation is set to go above seven per cent by April and wages are not anywhere near that, not in this area. You’re lucky if you’ve got a job.”
