The graph below shows the increase in requests for help with fuel bills across the first 12 weeks of 2022.

Thousands of people just like you are struggling with the cost of Covid-19. Many have lost money, either due to furlough, losing a job because a business closed down or are not able to work due to long-Covid.
Others have had to endure the compounding impacts of losing a loved one, who may have also supported them financially while having to pay for unexpected funeral costs.
These Covid-costs, combined with the removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift and escalating prices for fuel and store goods, are pushing people into unmanageable debt.
With no help, many are increasing their reliance on forms of credit, like store cards, increasing their debt problems.
We can help these people, but lockdowns have created an issue for us.
When we were forced to close our face-to-face service, we switched to online, remote working. New clients started to come to us through digital channels. Now, as we reopen our face-to-face service, we have the problem of maintaining our online service for those new clients.
Following a separation, one of our clients was left with multiple large debts. Just before Christmas and she and her 3 children were threatened with eviction. We stopped the eviction, sorted out her debt and arranged a Christmas hamper for her and her children.
She had this to say:"Thank you so much for all your help over the last year I appreciate everything you have done.
"The changes you have made to me and my children's life by taking away all the stress and worry of the debts has been amazing.
"I can now cope with situations which I once hid from and was why I got into such a mess, and that is because of all your support and advice and showing me there are people that can help!"
We help thousands of people every year who are in similar situations and we do it all for free.
We are training new advisers. This will enable us to answer more calls for help, by dealing with referrals, having more people on our Adviceline service, and conducting outreach.
Lockdown showed us that there are still many people in the region who are living in digital poverty and are unable to access online help.
The latter face-to-face aspect of this project is designed to go to help people like that by going into their communities.
Your donation will help us to make this vital expansion to our service.

We help people to deal with complex financial problems, such as debt and benefit issues. We do this by providing them with free expert advice and support that is confidential, impartial and independent.
We also help with issues of housing, employment, discrimination, family and relationship issues and consumer rights problems.
In addition to this, we conduct research and use our findings to campaign for positive legislative changes that improve the lives of the most vulnerable people in society.
Our service is free for everyone, no matter their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or anything else.
Clients receive advice in person, when possible, or via phone, email, letters or by using our website.
Visit our website to find out more about how we help people with their debt issues.
