{"id":2390,"date":"2025-04-23T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/?p=2390"},"modified":"2025-04-23T08:55:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T08:55:21","slug":"how-were-using-1800000-to-help-700000-disabled-families-that-have-been-pushed-into-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/23\/how-were-using-1800000-to-help-700000-disabled-families-that-have-been-pushed-into-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"How we\u2019re using \u00a31,800,000 to help 700,000 disabled families that have been pushed into poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>
Scope has a team of specialist advisors that help disabled people to try and save money on everyday bills that are on the rise (Picture: Metro \/ Scope)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is not often you find a library as busy as Dalston Library in Hackney.<\/p>\n

If you turn up there on a Thursday, you\u2019ll find the place buzzing and full to the brim.<\/p>\n

But visitors are not there for books; they are there for crucial energy vouchers.<\/p>\n

That is because every Thursday you\u2019ll find the disability<\/a> charity Scope running an energy advice service in the library.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Scope\t<\/div>
Sometimes the Scope sessions are so busy they have to turn people away<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Metro<\/strong> visited last month, we saw queues of people waiting to talk to advisors and find out how they can avoid falling into fuel poverty.<\/p>\n

The situation for some is so \u2018desperate\u2019 they are \u2018using heated pain packs and sticking on their body to keep warm.\u2019<\/p>\n

With \u00a31.8 million worth of funding from gas distribution network Cadent, Scope plans to help 225,000 disabled people with energy vouchers over two years.<\/p>\n

Scope\u2019s trained advisors hold these Community Disability Energy Advice Service sessions) in cities and towns across Cadent\u2019s network.<\/p>\n

But if you speak to these advisors they will all tell you the same thing: demand for their help, and vouchers, is going up and up and up.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2018It doesn\u2019t always seem like disabled people are thought about enough. It\u2019s more numbers than figures.<\/p>\n

Quote<\/title><title>Quote<\/title><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>With the energy price cap rising 6.4% and the government announcing cuts to disability benefits, more people are turning to Scope for help.<\/p>\n<p>Two of these are friends Arefat and Tigist, who both have disabled children in the same class at school and came along for support together.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tLatest London news\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/20\/huge-fire-engulfs-two-flats-east-london-block-22940983\/\">Huge fire engulfs two flats in east London block<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/27\/fungus-infected-zombie-spiders-invaded-london-22801577\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/29\/heathrow-airport-face-disruption-easter-strikes-announced-22815826\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/20\/chinese-spies-bugging-londons-pubs-park-benches-security-sources-say-22940560\/\">Chinese spies are \u2018bugging London\u2019s pubs and park benches,\u2019 security sources say<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/01\/three-killed-car-crashes-bus-sparks-huge-inferno-22826874\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/01\/three-killed-car-crashes-bus-sparks-huge-inferno-22826874\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/04\/08\/inside-plans-revamp-london-liverpool-street-station-22872616\/\">Inside the plans to revamp London Liverpool Street station<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro’s<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/london\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> London news hub<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Arefat told <strong>Metro<\/strong>: \u2018I am struggling at the moment. I do not get enough universal credit for me and my son.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Once the bills are paid for I am left with nothing. I am struggling. The money is not enough.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Her son\u2019s sensory needs means they \u2018need to keep the heating on\u2019 more than others.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22688241 lazyload\" alt=\"reporter Luke Alsford and Arefat [30]\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_242888097-28df.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Metro reporter Luke Alsford speaking to Arefat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/charity\/\"><strong>charity<\/strong><\/a> Scope, disabled households like Arefat\u2019s need an additional \u00a31, 010 each month to have the same standard of living as their non-disabled counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>This is because they might need to support specialist equipment, higher energy and utility bills as well as other living expenses.<\/p>\n<p>Tigist\u2019s daughter, for example, has a multi-allergy condition so needs expensive food to live.<\/p>\n<p>She told <strong>Metro<\/strong>: \u2018Bills are very expensive and it is very hard. I cannot afford it. Sometimes I can\u2019t use my heater. It was a very cold winter.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>After Tigist heard about Scope\u2019s sessions, she invited Arefat along and the pair were able to get one of the day\u2019s more in depth one-to-one advice sessions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22688267 lazyload\" alt=\"Scope at Dalston Library\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_242887802-58e1.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Scope advisors hand out vouchers worth \u00a3150<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The pair were able to come away with energy and gas vouchers worth \u00a3150 and were given crucial tips on how to cut their water bill.<\/p>\n<p>Arefat said: \u2018These vouchers mean I can keep the heating on. She gave us so much helpful advice.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We found out there is a lot of support available but you never find out about it. Nobody tells you.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Tigist was just as over-the-moon and \u2018very happy\u2019 with the vouchers, which they were sent by text.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">\n<p><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/21\/the-government-ashamed-5-000-000-000-disability-cuts-barbaric-22764167\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">\u2018The government should be ashamed of the \u00a35,000,000,000 disability cuts \u2013 they are barbaric\u2019<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/03\/blind-barbie-a-strictly-winner-among-full-list-nominees-scope-awards-2025-22643661\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Blind Barbie and a Strictly winner among the full list of nominees for the Scope Awards 2025<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><title>Arrow<\/title><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/03\/10\/im-a-hollywood-actor-think-social-media-normalised-people-abhorrent-online-22689072\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Adam Pearson rallies against \u2018abhorrent\u2019 online bullying after Baftas troll<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Both their water bills could also now go from \u00a340 a month to \u00a310.<\/p>\n<p>While the two friends both live in Hackney, word has spread far and wide about the vouchers and support on offer in Dalston Library.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Abraham, 50, travelled from north London after hearing about Scope\u2019s sessions.<\/p>\n<p>He told <strong>Metro<\/strong>: \u2018I work part time but bills are so high. I needed to come here and get help.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Energy bills are so high, particularly during winter. Sometimes I pay \u00a3350 for three months of energy bills. Life can be very hard.\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tEnergy Saving tips from Scope\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>You might be able to make some changes in your home to reduce how much energy you use.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Temperature and heating<\/h3>\n<p>The ideal temperature for your home is between 18 and 21 degrees. Turning your heating down by 1 degree can save you money.<\/p>\n<p>Turning down radiators in rooms you are not using saves around \u00a350 a year.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Washing and drying clothes<\/h3>\n<p>Washing clothes at 30 degrees and doing 1 less load of washing each week can save you \u00a329 a year.<\/p>\n<p>Drying clothes on racks or outside where possible instead of using a tumble dryer can save \u00a360 a year.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Washing dishes<\/h3>\n<p>Wash up in a bowl rather than using a running tap.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a dishwasher, doing 1 less load each week can save \u00a314 a year.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turning things off<\/h3>\n<p>Turning appliances off at the socket can save \u00a355 a year.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fixing draughts<\/h3>\n<p>Draught-proof your windows, doors, letterboxes and keyholes. This stops heat from escaping. Fixing draughts can save up to \u00a395 a year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Abraham, who also supports his 18-year-old son, was able to get one of the day\u2019s more in depth one-to-one advice sessions.<\/p>\n<p>He came away with \u00a3150 worth of energy vouchers and tips on how to slash his water bills too.<\/p>\n<p>Abraham was delighted and relieved to have received that financial support.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018These vouchers will help me afford more energy and food for my son,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n<p>The trio are a sign of what Scope advisors have told <strong>Metro<\/strong>, that interest in their voucher support has skyrocketed since December.<\/p>\n<p>Richard Dilks, the Team Leader for North London and East Anglia said the service only used to get a handful of people at each venues.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Then during the second week in December we saw numbers increase overnight.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22688254 lazyload\" alt=\"Richard\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_242887957-0e27.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Richard says demand for their advice has skyrocketed since December<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018We are now seeing 250 people a month.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018At the time I thought a lot of it may be Christmas related. Then obviously as it\u2019s got colder, people have started putting the heating on more.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018But as prices go up and up, people are dealing with last year\u2019s debt, last year\u2019s issues, and it\u2019s just sort of mounting up.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>On April 1, the energy cap went up by 6.4% from \u00a31,738 a year for a typical household to \u00a31,849.<\/p>\n<p>This compounded a 1.2% increase in January.<\/p>\n<p>Just as that price hike might be starting to bite, the government also laid out a major overhaul to disability benefits in March.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>They pledged\u00a0tighter eligibility criteria to receive personal independence payments (Pips), which starts at \u00a372.65 a week.<\/p>\n<p>The government have also said the work capability assessment for Universal Credit (UC) will be scrapped in 2028, with extra financial support for health conditions and UC \u2018available solely through the Pip assessment\u2019.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"436\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22721441 lazyload\" alt=\"PIX FOR STEVEN LAWRENCE SCOPE SHOOT Kim Humphries advises Carol Lawless aged 79. PIC BY MARK CAMPBELL\/MCPIX 07778 526193\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_243705325-be54.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Advisor Kimberley helps Carol Lawless aged 79. More people using her service are worried about the energy price rise and disability benefits cuts (Picture: MCPIX)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The proposals will also stop under 22-year-olds from claiming incapacity benefit top-up to universal credit.<\/p>\n<p>Scope says the government plans for PIP will push more than 700,000 more disabled households into poverty.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The benefits cuts, alongside the energy price cap increase, are bringing fear to Scope\u2019s advisers and driving more users to their service.<\/p>\n<p>Team leader Richard said: \u2018We\u2019re getting more people coming in because they\u2019re worried about how they\u2019re gonna be able to afford the bills.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tScope Awards 2025\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22708009 lazyload\" alt=\"Scope Awards logo.\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_243440758-7f74.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Metro<\/a>\u00a0is also the official media partner of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scope.org.uk\/awards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2025\u00a0Scope Awards<\/a>\u00a0that will take place next month.<\/p>\n<p>The ceremony will celebrate the\u00a0work\u00a0disabled people and organisations are doing to bring about important change.<\/p>\n<p>Hosted by the BAFTA-nominated actor Adam Pearson, unsung heroes, amazing achievements and the incredible accolades of the disabled community are all being honoured at the Kia Oval.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22647582 lazyload\" alt=\"7AM: Monday: Metro Scope Awards announcement picture: metro.co.uk\/ scope\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_241861916-bec1.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p>There are 38 nominees for the nine Scope Awards: Accessible Product, Celebrity Role Model, Community Group, Inclusive Workplace, Journalist, Marketing Campaign, Media Moment, Purple Pioneer and Social Media Influencer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u2018It doesn\u2019t always seem like disabled people are thought about enough. It\u2019s more numbers than figures.<\/p>\n<p>The sessions are getting so popular they sometimes have to limit the numbers because of health and safety.<\/p>\n<p>Richard\u2019s team runs sessions in Hackney, Stamford Hill, Newham, Stoke Newinghton, East Ham and beyond, but the story is the same elsewhere in the country.<\/p>\n<p>Kimberley Humphries, 38, is a Scope energy advisor for the north west of England which is also part of Cadent\u2019s gas network covered by the \u00a31.8 million funding.<\/p>\n<p>Her team of 9 travel far and wide, from Stoke, Macclesfield, Bury, Wigan and Manchester.<\/p>\n<p>They held over 500 one to one advise sessions in February, and demand is only growing.<\/p>\n<p>Kimberley told <strong>Metro<\/strong>: \u2018We are out in the communities. Disabled pepple are digitally excluded and so may not know about the support Scope provide.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We are seeing pockets of significant need.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"474\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22721438 lazyload\" alt=\"PIX FOR STEVEN LAWRENCE SCOPE SHOOT Kim Humphries advises Simon McLeod aged 57. PIC BY MARK CAMPBELL\/MCPIX 07778 526193\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SEI_243705386-d8aa.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>Kimberley\u2019s advice sessions take her throughout the North West (Picture: MCPIX)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018I ppoke to one person who was using heated pain packs and sticking them on their body to keep warm.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It is very eye opening. It is desperation, they have no other choice. These are the people we are reaching out to and working with.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Kim fears the situation will only get worse with the energy price rises and the welfare cuts ahead.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The impact is going to be extreme,\u2019 she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I envisage a winter where there is going to be a significant increase in people accessing our service and needing more critical support.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018People do have benefits in place and are already struggling.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>The drop-in sessions and the crucial vouchers are helping however.<\/p>\n<p>Kim said: \u2018People come away feeling less isolated in their circumstances.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Then they can talk to other family and friends in similar situations and spread the message.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>People can find out where the next and nearest Scope advice sessions are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scope.org.uk\/community-disability-energy-advice\">on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong><strong><strong>Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"mailto:webnews@metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\">webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this, <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>check our news page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scope has a team of specialist advisors that help disabled people to try and save money on everyday bills that are on the rise (Picture: Metro \/ Scope) It is not often you find a library as busy as Dalston Library in Hackney. If you turn up there on a Thursday, you\u2019ll find the place […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2390"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2402,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2390\/revisions\/2402"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}