Charity supports appliance replacement scheme to combat fuel poverty

Industry charity The Furniture Makers’ Company is appealing to businesses in the UK furnishing industry to direct employees living in fuel poor households to the charity so it can help them replace their old, inefficient white goods appliances with modern, energy efficient machines.

The charity is working with the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) and C Supplies to offer people in the UK furnishing industry the opportunity to replace a maximum of two old or broken appliances – fridges, freezers, washing machines, and cookers – for free.

The initiative is funded by the LEAP Energy Scheme with delivery and installation of the new appliances and collection of the old appliances provided by C Supplies. To qualify for the offer, applicants must be able to evidence that they have a total annual household income of less than £31,000 or be receiving government benefits*.

Sue Dean, welfare officer at The Furniture Makers’ Company, said: “With the energy crisis deepening, swapping to energy efficient appliances is one way of maximising energy usage and saving money. This time limited offer from LEAP will allow hard-hit and struggling families or individuals the opportunity to get two new efficient appliances delivered and installed for free, provided they meet the criteria.”

To apply for the service, please contact Sue Dean, welfare officer at The Furniture Makers’ Company, by email: welfareofficer@furnituremakers.org.uk or telephone: 020 7562 8528.

With inflation at a 40-year high and families struggling with the cost of living, on Wednesday 28 September The Furniture Makers’ Company is hosting a free ‘Welfare Matters’ conference for HR professionals working in the furnishing industry to find out about the welfare support the charity offers and how it can help people at their place of work.

Sue added: “This crisis isn’t going away anytime soon, and the forthcoming months are going to be very tough for many people. HR teams served as fantastic referrers to our charity during the pandemic and we hope to build links with more teams so that we can help them combat the current crisis. Please encourage a member of your HR team to attend this free event. If your business doesn’t have a dedicated HR team, then anyone who oversees people management at your company is welcome.”

*Applicants will qualify if their annual household income is less than £31,000 or if they are on one or more of the following: Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Pension Guarantee Credit, Child Tax Credit / Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.