Let’s Talk Money: Spotlight on…THAW Orkney

With the current cost of living crisis continuing to impact individuals and families on a widespread scale, Orkney Islands Council is reminding people there is help and support available to them.

As part of its Let’s Talk Money campaign, the council is shining a light on the numerous Island-wide organisations and initiatives that are working hard and in place to provide residents with the advice and guidance they need.

This includes THAW Orkney, a charity that provides a wealth of services, all aimed at providing residents and businesses with fundamental support to overcome any energy-related challenges they may be facing. Since being launched in 2015, the charity has helped more than 1,000 households, a figure that’s steadily growing by the day. 

Funded by Orkney Money Matters, The Robertson Trust, Advice UK and the British Gas Energy Trust, THAW Orkney’s dedicated Energy Support Advisors are on hand to help with a whole host of issues, including:

Supplier issues and billing – for example, high bills or liaising with energy suppliers. While THAW Orkney may also struggle with supplier inaction, the charity’s established relationships with multiple suppliers means they can usually find alternative routes to solutions before having to contact the Ombudsman 

Tariffs and meters – knowing if you are on the correct tariff or have the right type of meter can be confusing. THAW Orkney can explore and explain all of the options and recommend the most cost effective solution based on your property/premises

Debt and financial support – if your energy bills have become unmanageable, THAW Orkney will try to find the best support to make them manageable again. This can include accessing funds for energy debt and ongoing costs and working with Orkney Citizen’s Advice Bureau on income maximisation

Energy efficiency upgrades – the most effective way of saving money on your energy bills often involves reducing your overall usage by removing drafts and water ingress, as well as increasing insulation levels. THAW Orkney can help you find out if you are eligible for grants and loans, as well as signpost you to the methods to assess your property/premises and apply for upgrades

Additional support – from replacing broken heating systems to overcoming meter problems, and acting as an advocate and providing invaluable third party support, THAW Orkney’s Energy Support Advisors are trained to help with the widest range of energy-related issues 

THAW Orkney is available to help between 9.30am and 4.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. To contact the team, you can visit them at Anchor Buildings, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HR, call them on 01856 878388 or email them at info@thaworkney.co.uk