Thu, 11 Sep 2025

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 The group helping cut fuel bills for those in need

The co-operative provide and fit free door curtains, draught excluders, LED bulbs and more to homes.

* Upper Don Community Energy (UDCE) has helped over 60 households in Sheffield keep their homes warmer through a series of simple energy-saving measures.
* The group provides and fits free items such as door curtains, draught excluders, LED bulbs and more to eligible households living in fuel poverty.
* With funding from organizations including Sheffield Council, the South Yorkshire Community Foundation, and the Northern Powergrid Foundation, UDCE can now help up to 50 more households in the Upper Don area of Sheffield.
* Households are targeted through a referral system with GPs and foodbanks, and individuals on universal credit or child tax credit are among those who qualify for assistance.
* Volunteers have helped sew curtains and fill draft excluders, while local handymen have donated their time to fit the new items.
* Two beneficiaries of the scheme, Helen Lowe and Natalya Odnorozhenko, reported significant improvements in their homes' warmth and comfort after receiving assistance from UDCE.
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