Energy Saving Advice and Grants

Look on Citizens Advice Doncaster website or visit your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau for information on what to do if you are struggling to pay your bills, how to read your meter, what to do if there's a problem with your energy bill or supply, or for more information on energy bills.

Citizen Advice Doncaster’s Energy Advisers are able to support with the following:

• Benefit Checks as part of Income Maximisation
• Dealing with energy Debts 
• Energy Appointments for Deaf clients 
• Home visiting
• Energy Efficiency support and guidance
• Information and support on the Priority Services Register, Warm Homes Discount and other possible scheme and grants
• Advice on energy complaints
• Smart Meter information & advice
• Carbon Monoxide awareness 
• Fuel vouchers and other energy saving appliances (bulbs, radiator covers, door stops etc.)
• Winter warmth packs (wooly hat, winter socks, gloves blanket and flask)

 Appointments can be over the phone or in person at any of their offices. Call 01302 243057 or https://www.cadoncasterborough.org/online-referrals/

The Priority Services Register is a free support service to help people in vulnerable situations. Utility operators, including gas, electricity and water, offer it and each one keeps their own register.
 
You will need to get in touch with your energy supplier or network operator to get on it. To check your eligibility and find out more information go to Ofgem's website.

There are lots of spaces across Doncaster that provide a safe, supportive, warm space to help you relieve the pressure to heat your home as well as providing access to information, advice and guidance. Anybody is able to access a Welcoming Space by simply walking in. 

To find your local Welcoming Space, or to let others know about a Welcoming Space you are running visit the Warm Welcome database.

Look on MoneyHelper website for free guidance provided by the Money and Pensions Service.

The Money and Pensions service is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. It has a joint commitment to ensure that people throughout the UK have guidance and access to the information they need to make effective financial decisions over their lifetime.

The main credit union in Doncaster is Community First Credit Union (formerly South Yorkshire Credit Union).

Credit unions offer an easy way to save and financial services such as low-cost loans.

Good features of Credit Unions.

• Easier to open a credit union account than a bank or building society account
• Basic banking services such as standing orders to pay bills and rent
• Easy to save as much as you like at local collection points or direct from your wages
• South Yorkshire Credit Union pays an annual dividend based on the performance of the credit union over the past year
• Credit unions offer low cost loans to their members
• Savings are insured by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Members can also benefit from the following:

• Debt advice
• Budgeting advice
• Help with choosing credit
• Support and encouragement to save

 How do I join?

You will need to fill in an application form and provide proof of your identity and where you live.

How can I find out more and contact Community First Credit Union?

You can call Community First Credit Union on 0303 030 0010 or visit one of their offices

• Doncaster branch: Unit 6, Colonnades Shopping Centre, DN1 3EG
• Mexborough branch: 1 Main Street, Mexborough, S64 9LU
• Scawthorpe branch:13 Crossland Way, Scawthorpe, DN5 9EX
• Stainforth branch: 8 Station Road, Stainforth, DN7 5QA

If you are a home owner and your boiler does not work properly or is broken, you have a chronic health condition, and you don’t have the finances to replace or repair the system, you may be eligible for a grant for a boiler replacement and/or central heating. The following is a list of some of the conditions that apply – (list is not exhaustive and householders are assessed on a case by case basis).

• Chronic Heart conditions
• Respiratory conditions
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Complex conditions
• Mental Health condition

 

Each case must be assessed by the Council's Environmental Sustainability team. Timescales may vary, on average applications take between 4 to 6 weeks depending on installer availability. The team aims to respond to applications within 5 working days.  

To apply, please fill out the web-form using the link under "Grants Available" and a member of the team will contact you. if you are helping someone who is unable to access the Internet you can fill this out on their behalf, alternatively please call the Environmental Sustainability team on 01302 737053.                                 

For more information on how we use your data to deliver the grant, please visit the Affordable Warmth Privacy Notice. 

Under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme energy efficiency measures including but not limited to insulation and heating can be partially funded, but first requires a free survey to understand what is required and to confirm eligibility.

This grant is available to those receiving one of the following benefit:

• Child Benefit* 
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit Savings Credit 
• Housing Benefit 

*Child Benefit qualification is subject to gross annual household earnings

Please visit the Trustmark to find approved contractors who support the ECO scheme in your area.  Ask if they are registered with the ECO scheme and what they can offer. 

For more information, visit Local Authority Flexible Eligibility Statement Of Intent - Doncaster Council

If you need extra support with the cost of living, you may be eligible for the Household Support Fund.

The Government has announced further Household Support Funding for 01/04/25 to 31/03/26.

The City of Doncaster Council has decided to use the funding to provide help to working age and pensioner households in Doncaster who receive any of the following during the period of the scheme.

• Housing Benefit,
• Local Council Tax Reduction,
• Universal Credit which includes the housing element
• Means-tested free school meals.

Please be aware that applications may close earlier if funding is spent.

To find out more about local support, when payments are scheduled, and how to apply, visit Household Support Fund - City of Doncaster Council

You could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2025 to 2026 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme: Overview - GOV.UK The scheme will open from October 2025.

The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity and you’re eligible. Contact your supplier to find out. 

If you’re a permanent resident living in a Park Home and you pay for your electricity directly to your park site owner you can apply for a £150 Warm Homes payment. Funding is limited and applications will be considered on a first come first served basis. Only one application per household will be allowed. To find out more visit  Park Homes | Warm Home Discount Scheme | Charis

If you were born before 22 September 1959 you could get between £100 or £300 to help you pay your heating bills for winter 2025 to 2026. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. For more information or to check eligibility go to Winter Fuel Payment: Overview - GOV.UK 

You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you are getting certain benefits or support for mortgage interest. 

You will get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for 7 days in a row. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. for more information or to check eligibility please visit Cold Weather Payment: Overview - GOV.UK

Yorkshire Water offer several schemes that could help you save money on your water bills, or to support with packs to help you save water. For more information please visit Yorkshire Water's website or alternatively you can call them on 0345 124 2424.