We're supporting families of seriously ill children with rising energy bills

As we enter the cold winter months, a new partnership will help families caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses to cope with rising energy bills. We've teamed up with Together for Short Lives to support vulnerable families with the rising Cost of Living and help keep them safe and warm at home this winter.

Families of children with serious illnesses are disproportionately affected by the rising cost of energy bills as they often rely on energy intensive equipment, such as ventilators, and heating, to keep their child warm, comfortable and alive.

Concerned families are facing significant debt to keep equipment running and are now confronted with difficult choices between feeding their family or heating their home, let alone being able to celebrate a Christmas together this year that may be their last.

Thanks to this new partnership, Together for Short Lives will shortly introduce a new energy support service through their Family Support Hub. This energy support service will provide information to families on the grants and benefits available to help them cope with the increasing costs of household bills.

For eligible families living in the South East, the energy advice service can also provide fuel vouchers to help pay their bills, and ‘heat the person’ items – for example warming blankets.

Children’s Hospices within our southern gas network area will also benefit from training support from the Energy Support Adviser to help hospice staff educate families using the hospice on how to use their energy more efficiently helping them heat their homes for longer.

Together for Short Lives will be encouraging families to sign up to the Priority Services Register, which helps families caring for a seriously ill child by providing:

• Advanced notice on planned work on their electricity, gas or water wherever possible
• Priority support in the event of unplanned electricity, gas, or water outage
• Support with items including heated blankets, alternative heating and cooking facilities, food vouchers and alternative accommodation where appropriate.

Andy Fletcher, Chief Executive at Together for Short Lives, said: “We are excited and thankful to be working with SGN to help families with extra support exactly when they need it. We would encourage families to contact our Helpline to see how we can help them – we are just a call away."

Families can sign up for the Priority Services Register by visiting here.

This new partnership will help families who live in East Sussex, West Sussex and South-East Hampshire and are supported by Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice.