A SWINDON service which is helping people dealing with the cost of living crisis has received nearly £130,000 to help pay for its work.

The British Gas Energy Trust contacted the Citizens Advice in Swindon town centre after identifying the parts of the country most in need of additional support.

The trust gave an 18-month grant totalling £129,400 to the group based on Sanford Street as demand for support and advice is expected to increase in the coming months.

Citizens Advice helps people dealing with a wide range of problems including money, debt, benefits, housing and energy.

Earlier this year, the team found that more than one in five of the people surveyed had skipped meals, more than seven in 10 were reducing their energy usage, and half were buying less food for themselves or their family, because of the rising cost of living.

Around 30 per cent said they had already borrowed money to cover rising costs, and one in three felt they couldn’t cut back any further to save more money.

Chief executive Claire Newport said: “This year we have seen a steady and continuous rise in the number of people coming to us for help with their debt problems.

“This includes a steep increase in people in arrears to their energy or water companies, and an unprecedented 74 per cent rise in people who owe money to friends and family.

“We and the local people we work with need all the support we can get at the moment, and we’re so grateful to the British Gas Energy Trust for recognising that.”

The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charitable trust which supports families and individuals facing financial hardship and energy debt across England, Wales and Scotland, and provides direct grants to individuals and families who hat have an energy debt of between £250 and £750.

CEO Jessica Taplin added: “The rising cost of living means more people are experiencing financial difficulty for the first time, and are struggling to pay their bills.

“Whether you’re with British Gas or another energy supplier, it’s important to know that there is help available to you. You can apply to us direct or access support via Citizens Advice Swindon, which does a fantastic job supporting local people.”

For more information about the British Gas Energy Trust, to find out about the support that’s available, and to apply for a grant, visit https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk