Affordable warmth and energy efficiency

Cost of living crisis

Worried about rising energy costs? Here are some steps to follow…

1. Let your energy supplier know that you're worried about being able to make payments. They need to know that you're struggling with your bills so that they can direct you to the right support.

2. Contact Keep Shropshire Warm by calling 0800 112 3743 for free. If we can’t get to you right away, please leave a message and we’ll call you back as soon as possible. You can also email advice@mea.org.uk.

3. Like and follow @KeepShropshireWarm on Facebook for regular news and updates.

4. If you're worried about general debt, we recommend seeking advice from

• Citizens Advice – 01743 280019 
• Barnabas Money Advice (based in Shrewsbury) - 01743 364114

ECO grants  

For information on grants to cover loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and any other energy efficiency measures, please contact the Keep Shropshire Warm team directly:  

• Phone: 0800 112 3743
• Email: advice@mea.org.uk

About us

We promote energy conservation and energy efficiency in domestic properties, and work closely with our partners through the Keep Shropshire Warm (KSW) initiative. We help residents in Shropshire reduce their fuel bills and the health risks of living in a cold home.

Keep Shropshire Warm is our free and impartial energy advice service, managed by Shrewsbury-based charity Marches Energy Agency.

The average household wastes £250 a year by not being energy efficient. Poor insulation, inefficient appliances and bad habits can cost you money. To counter this, KSW offers free and impartial advice on:

• Help with energy tariffs, bills and suppliers
• Heating and hot water help
• Free home energy checks
• Insulation improvements
• Benefit entitlement checks to enable income maximisation
• Helping residents assess whether an ‘offer’ is genuine – particularly in relation to door-knocking or cold calling!
• Priority Services Register - helping vulnerable residents sign up to Western Power Distribution’s list to receive assistance in the event of a power cut
• Emergency funding for households in a ‘no heat’ situation due to broken heating systems
• Help with heating controls and energy bills, provision of small energy saving measures
• Council support grants
• Energy efficiency grants - in many cases grants will fully fund the cost of works for:
  • Air source heat pumps
  • Modern electric storage heating
  • First-time double glazing
  • Internal and external wall insulation
  • Loft and cavity wall insulation
  • Room in roof insulation

The service is available to all residents of the county, who can self-refer or be referred for support by family members, friends or professionals.

To find out how you can start saving money on your fuel bills or receive help or advice on heating, renewable energy and potential government funding, contact the team using the details at the foot of this page.

Advice is given over the phone or via email by trained charity staff. For those who need it, there is the option of a follow up home visit and ongoing casework support.

You can also follow @KeepShropshire Warm on Facebook and @MarchesEnergy on Twitter.

Are you a frontline worker or community advocate?

The KSW team accept referrals from relevant key professionals and community groups who have regular contact with vulnerable households.

Training to help recognise those vulnerable households living in fuel poverty or struggling to afford to heat their homes is also available. For more information and to arrange an informal chat about the service, please email FAO Heather Kieniewicz using advice@mea.org.uk  

“It’s so wonderful to have a warm house – just being able to come home from work and flick on a switch is life changing."

Claire (a Shropshire nurse who received a first-time central heating grant through the Warmer Homes Shropshire scheme)