Case studies
Discover how we’re supporting people across the North West to save energy and money.
Hear from people we’ve helped
We value their unwavering support
Sam’s success story
Sam*, based in Bury, Greater Manchester, was referred to Take Charge by SP Electricity North West’s Extra Care Team after experiencing a power cut that caused serious concern for her household.
Sam’s partner has a medical condition that requires hospital-prescribed specialist food, which must be kept refrigerated at all times. The power cut raised fears that any future disruption to electricity could lead to this food spoiling, which could have significant health consequences and would be difficult to replace quickly.
Take Charge supported Sam by helping her access a Kingston Trust grant, specific to her partner’s medical condition, to fund a small household generator. This will allow them to keep their specialist fridge running during any future power cuts.
In addition, Sam received a full package of energy efficiency and income maximisation advice, which included:
Thanks to this support, Sam now has greater peace of mind and improved resilience in the face of potential power outages, while also benefiting from ongoing help to manage household bills.
*Name changed for customer anonymity.
Pete’s success story
Pete* from Manchester contacted Take Charge by phone, seeking urgent support with a long-running issue with his energy supplier. Pete, who is digitally excluded and living with significant mental health challenges, had been trying to change his energy supplier but encountered repeated errors made by the provider.
During this process, Pete’s meter was mistakenly switched from a prepayment to a credit meter. As a result, he was not billed for a period of time. When he was eventually billed, the supplier presented him with a sudden demand for around £871. Pete had already pursued a complaint with the supplier, but the process was unsatisfactory, and he was still being asked to pay the full amount.
Take Charge stepped in to escalate the complaint with the energy company. After a review, the supplier agreed to write off the full debt. We also supported Pete in transferring to a supplier of his choice. During this transition, an additional £168 was added to his bill, which we also successfully challenged. The original supplier agreed to write this off as a gesture of goodwill in recognition of the client’s vulnerability.
As a result, Pete benefitted from:
Pete now has more manageable energy costs and no outstanding debt, providing him with greater financial stability and peace of mind.
*Name changed for customer anonymity.
Mumta’s success story
Mumta* from Manchester, who is vulnerable due to numerous health conditions, contacted Take Charge to discuss how to reduce her energy use and keep her home warm.
Our advisors helped Mumta apply for an Eco Flex grant to make energy improvements to her home. The Eco Flex team completed a full review of Mumta’s property and installatedimprovements worth over £20,000.
This included:
Thanks to these improvements, Mumta has significantly reduced her gas usage, going from being in debit to being credit. Mumta’s solar panels have reduced her electricity bills by a third.
The grant scheme has made a big positive impact on Mumta’s wellbeing.
*Name changed for customer anonymity
Karen’s success story
Karen* from Manchester contacted Take Charge about having water bill debt, as well as her concerns about her living situation.
Karen shared that she had been sleeping on a sofa for several years, which she found extremely uncomfortable due to complications from a kidney operation.
Our advisors supported Karen with her applications for a trust fund, to buy a double bed. They also provided a benefits check and income maximisation advice to boost her household income.
As a result, Karen benefited from:
*Name changed for customer anonymity
