November customer update from Rohini

Hi everyone,

It may be the last day of November but the festive season has most definitely arrived. In my neighbourhood, people are already putting up lots of lights and decorations and I love to see whose are the most over the top! 

I was really hoping that this year we could all have a Christmas time when we can really celebrate; in our household we love to join in with all the festivities, including wearing Christmas jumpers as you can see from my picture.

But over the past week we have heard the news about the new variant of coronavirus arriving in this county. We all have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe, make sure we keep to the Government guidelines that have been introduced today, to give us the chance to meet our family and friends face-to-face this Christmas.

This time I’ll be focusing on our continuing Money Matters campaign, how to have fun at this time of year without breaking the bank and the latest on our repairs service.

Still time to refer a friend and earn £1,000!

But first, if you'd like a boost to your festive funds than there's still time to earn a massive £1,000 if you can recommend someone to work for us. If you know someone talented who would enjoy supporting our customers to thrive then please fill out the form. If your recommendation is successful, £1,000 will be paid to you in two instalments – £500 on their first day and £500 after completion of their six month probation. So, get your thinking caps on as the offer ends 31 December 2021. Terms and conditions apply. 

Money Matters

In my last update I mentioned our first event for Money Matters was a short Facebook Live broadcast with industry experts as part of Talk Money Week which ran from 8-12 November. Watch the highlights from the live session to hear our experts explain why energy bills are going up, what support is available and how every one of us can shave money off our monthly bills. 

Energy bills 

With the first frosts of winter already appearing, it's a tricky period to manage especially when bills are going up. So it's worth checking out some of the ways you can save on your energy bills and check out our other money-saving tips. Please remember that we are here to support you so do have a conversation with your neighbourhood coach if you have any concerns. 

Grants and support

Remember there is already a wealth of information out there, and some of the most helpful organisations include Citizens Advice, the Energy Saving Trust and ofgem.

David's volunteering gets royal seal of approval

I'm often inspired by our customers and the amazing things they do and none more so than David Chadwick. Read how David and a team of volunteers were awarded one of the highest accolades in England after winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, as well as an additional Special Award for the diversity of support they provided during the pandemic.

Christmas money saving tips

With Christmas only three weeks away, it's good idea to start planning your finances now and decide what you can afford and the best places to go to get discounts or cashback. We've scoured the internet to find some websites that will help you take the stress out of spending. Check out Money Saving Expert, Money nuggets and Mums Make Lists. 

Keeping on top of repairs

Responding to your repairs reports remains a priority and we continue to work hard to reduce the backlog that has built up. At this time of year we see demand for repairs increasing, in part due to the impact of adverse weather like we had at the weekend. So we have brought in three additional partners to help us ensure we continue to clear the backlog and respond to new calls, which might mean that you see a colleague from one of these partner companies coming in to do repairs in your home.

Stay safe, keep warm, and I will be back in January for the first update of 2022. Enjoy the festive season and I wish you all a very happy new year.

Rohini