Energy provider starts voucher scheme for vulnerable Eastbourne residents struggling with fuel costs

Your Energy Sussex, which works in partnership with Eastbourne council, announced on Tuesday (April 7) that it has used money from its emergency fuel poverty fund to make vouchers for Sussex households in need, according to the council.

The vouchers, which are £28 for a single person and £49 for a family, are for vulnerable residents struggling with old age, a health condition, are on limited incomes or means-tested benefits, facing difficult financial circumstances and use a pre-payment meter.

A council spokesperson said the vouchers are available from Citizens Advice and residents are able to check their eligibility over the phone.

Eastbourne residents have been asked to call Citizen Advice’s adviceline on 0344 411 14442 for more information. Members of the public do not have to be a Your Energy Sussex customer to receive a voucher.

Former Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd said on Twitter, “This is an excellent initiative. Please retweet so we can get it out across Eastbourne folks.”

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: “Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role.”

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

In addition, please write to your MP urging the Government to provide some additional financial support for local newspapers and their websites like this one and ensuring that supermarkets continue to stock them. I cannot stress enough how important such an intervention would be.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.