Shropshire good causes to benefit from Shropshire Council’s partnership with SSE

Good causes across Shropshire will soon be benefiting from Shropshire Council’s partnership with energy company SSE – with the county’s food banks the first to benefit.

In April 2017 Shropshire Council and SSE launched the new Shropshire Community Energy tariff. It’s 5% cheaper than SSE’s Standard tariff and is exclusively available to Shropshire residents, Shropshire Council staff and those working for the council’s partner organisations.

For everyone who switches to the new Shropshire Community Energy tariff, SSE pays Shropshire Council a fee. Now, from 1 October 2017 all money raised will be used to benefit a local good cause – rather than be put towards the cost of running the council’s culture and heritage services as it has been.

A different good cause will benefit every three months.

At the same time, SSE will also pay Shropshire Council whenever local people sign up to SSE’s new phone and broadband package – this money will also go to towards the same good causes.

Between 1 October and 31 December 2017 money raised will be used to produce online ‘e-learning’ training packages to help teach food bank users how to use a computer and access the internet. This is vital as many central Government services will soon only be accessible online and for those who cannot use a computer, such training may be a lifeline.

The training is an important part of a wider package of support that will see Shropshire Council donate  IT equipment to the foodbanks and other charities.

Nic Laurens, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economic growth, said:

“It’s great news that local good causes are to benefit from people signing up to this local energy tariff and I hope this will encourage people to consider switching to SSE.
“The feedback we’ve received from people – including staff and partners – is that money raised through the community energy tariff should benefit local good causes rather than be put towards the cost of running Shropshire Council services, as it has been until now. As a result, we’ve now reconsidered and I’m delighted that from October local good causes will benefit from local people switching to the new Shropshire tariff, and signing up to SSE’s new phone and broadband package.
“The first good cause is a vital one. The money raised through people switching to SSE will enable us to provide vitally important training packages that people will soon be able to use. Many central government services will soon only be accessible online and for those who cannot use a computer, our new e-learning platform may be a lifeline.”

For more information about the tariff, who is eligible, and how to switch, go to shropshire.gov.uk/energy.

To get a price comparison, call SSE on 0345 300 2133.

For information about SSE’s new phone and broadband package, call 03450 729 312 and quote SR123.

Further information
The Shropshire Community Energy tariff allows customers to fix their energy prices for two years at the reduced rate, protecting them against price rises.

If you’re currently on SSE’s Standard tariff you’ll be able to transfer to the new Shropshire tariff and benefit from the reduced rate with no exit fees applied.

Under the partnership, people can also access advice and support about ways to save money through energy-saving measures, such as loft insulation and boiler maintenance cover.

A different good cause will be chosen every three months. Each cause must meet certain criteria, including benefiting people across the county, and Shropshire Council’s partners will be invited to suggest causes that they feel would be worthy recipients.