Bristol Debt Advice Centre
Since 1989 Bristol Debt Advice Centre (BDAC) has been improving lives by tackling financial problems. The organisation is committed to relieving and preventing poverty; combating social and financial exclusion; promoting equal opportunities; promoting access to justice; influencing social policy and contributing to economic regeneration.
A central part of BDAC, the Energy Advice Project’s (EAP) primary focus is to reduce fuel poverty in the South West. The project aims to:
- Combat fuel debt and fuel poverty faced by vulnerable households, particularly those in crisis
- Promote energy efficiency in the home
- Develop effective relationships and networks with key agencies across the region
Over the past five years they have built a strong reputation for providing quality advice, support and training which they look forward to developing further over the next two years.
Current Energy Advice Project (EAP) Objectives
Grant funding from Ebico commenced in September 2010 allowing BDAC to expand their services, reaching further into the community offering the following services:
- Assist vulnerable people and those experiencing a significant life change, such as exiting prison, leaving long-term hospital care, living alone for the first time etc. to identify, address and avoid fuel poverty and fuel debt through education, advice and support
- Improve client understanding of how to manage their energy consumption and bill payments and where to get further specialist help and support if needed
- Contribute to an improvement in health and well-being through provision of advice on energy efficiency measures and winter warmth issues
- Maximise client income through assistance with:
Benefit take-up
Budgeting for household expenditure,
Implementing energy efficiency measures in the home
Researching the most suitable energy tariffs.
BDAC are now providing a combination of:
- One-to-one advice and home visits
- Telephone advice
- Referrals to grant schemes for insulation and heating measure
- Referrals to specialist agencies for other debt issues and welfare benefits advice
- Talks and presentations on energy efficiency in the home to local community groups
- Energy awareness training for front-line workers in the advice and health fields, enabling them to recognise signs of fuel poverty and take appropriate action
- Informal coffee mornings / open access surgeries with a trained energy adviser. This is an ‘Energy Club’ service which will link in with existing events at various locations.
Home visits include a pre-assessment interview, home energy audit, completion of budget forms to ensure income maximization, verbal and written information and follow-up advice.
Hugh Lee our chairman and Trustee member went to the re-launch event in September.
See Press Release here.
See BDAC's quarter 5 report here for the period September-November 2011
Fundraising
Bristol Debt Advice Centre (BDAC) is celebrating 21 years of improving lives by tackling financial problems.
Funding for debt advice is under threat. Help them to continue their work by taking a look at their fundraising page here.
