LEAP in Action: Real Stories from Real People
Supporting Our Community, One Home at a Time
At Green Energy Switch, we believe that no one should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table. That’s why we’re so proud to deliver free, practical home energy support through free home energy visits to people across Peterborough, South Cambridgeshire, Rutland, and Fenland. We want to help households at risk or in fuel poverty stay warm, safe, and supported when they need it most.
Every day, our amazing Home Energy Advisors are out there making a real difference. Whether it’s switching someone to a better tariff, fitting energy-saving measures like LED bulbs, or helping to clear water bill debt, they don’t just bring advice, but genuine care.
LEAP: A Free Lifeline for Households Facing Fuel Poverty
All of our work is made possible through LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership). LEAP is a free service designed to tackle fuel poverty head-on. Open to homeowners, private renters, and social housing tenants; it’s designed for those who are struggling with or at risk of falling into fuel poverty. It’s all fully funded, so there’s no cost to those receiving this support.
Right now, with 6.1 million people in the UK living in fuel poverty (NEA, April 2025), this kind of energy support is more important than ever. That’s why today, we’re sharing just a few powerful real-life stories to show that LEAP isn’t just a service, it’s a lifeline. By sharing these experiences, we hope more individuals and families realise that this help is out there, and it’s free.
Real Stories
Here are just a few examples of how LEAP is changing lives in our communities every day.
Mrs P’s Story: Water Bill Arrears Cleared and Pension Credit Unlocked
Mrs P is blind, retired, and lives with her adult son who has mental health conditions. Living on a low income and receiving some help with her rent and council tax, she was still finding it hard to manage, especially when it came to her water bills. When our Home Energy Advisor visited her home, they fitted LED lightbulbs and reflective radiator panels for her. But most importantly, they referred her onto IncomeMax; one of LEAP’s partner services. Through that referral, Mrs P received help applying for the Thames Water Customer Assistance Fund. This resulted in the provider successfully writing off her existing arrears. They also identified that she was eligible for weekly Pension Credit payments, unlocking additional, long-term financial support.
Edward’s Story: £140 Warm Home Discount and New Fridge-Freezer
Edward wasn’t sure if his home had cavity wall insulation. During a LEAP home visit, our Home Energy Advisor was able to confirm that the insulation had been installed, giving him peace of mind. As part of the visit, the advisor referred Edward for a new free fridge freezer through the HEART scheme and fitted energy-saving LED bulbs to help reduce his energy costs. Edward was also made aware that he was eligible for the Guaranteed Element of Pension Credit, which he agreed to apply for. To offer further support, our advisor helped Edward apply for the £140 Warm Home Discount and arranged for discounts on his water bills through the LITE tariff.
Julie’s Story: £3,000 in Additional Annual Income and a New Heating System
Julie, a single mum to one child, reached out to LEAP directly for support. She was finding it hard to manage rising energy bills, a cold and damp home, and the pressures of living on a low income. She heated her rented, open-plan house with a mix of oil radiators, electric heaters, and a portable Calor gas heater in the lounge. None of which were efficient or cost-effective. Before the national Covid-19 lockdown, LEAP arranged a home visit. During the visit, our Home Energy Advisor provided energy-saving advice, installed low-energy lighting (saving around £40 a year), and fitted a TV standby device to help cut down unnecessary energy use. Through our Income Maximisation service, we also discovered that Julie was eligible for extra support via the Discretionary Housing Payment. As a result, she received an additional £3,000 in annual income and further help with her water bill. To top it off, Warmer Homes replaced her outdated electric storage heaters with a brand-new, energy-efficient gas central heating system worth £3,873. This change could save Julie up to £500 per year and has already made her home warmer and more comfortable.
Rose’s Story: Free LED Lightbulbs and £250 Heating Voucher
Carol, a kind-hearted resident, helped her neighbour Rose access the support she needed through the LEAP service. After receiving a LEAP leaflet from South Cambridgeshire District Council, Carol got in touch and arranged a telephone advice call for herself and Rose with Ken from Green Energy Switch. During the call, Ken explained the Warm Home Discount scheme, and as a result, Rose received the £140 discount helping her with energy costs. Following the call, Ken visited Rose’s home to install simple energy-saving measures, including LED lightbulbs and draught excluders, to help make her home warmer and more energy efficient. He also referred Rose for the Stay Well grant, which provided £250 worth of heating oil. This finally got her heating back on after months without it. Both Rose and Carol shared how pleased they were with the service and said they hadn’t known about any of these schemes before speaking to LEAP.
Helping Mr Owen Stay Warm and Supported
When Mr Owen contacted LEAP, it was initially because his cooker had broken. However, during the visit, the advisor was able to support him in several additional ways.
Mr Owen was struggling to keep up with his energy costs and often found himself in emergency credit on his prepayment meters. The advisor offered practical advice on how to reduce his energy usage and successfully applied for fuel vouchers to help him top up his meters.
Mr Owen also mentioned that his living room felt particularly cold due to draughts coming through the door. To help improve warmth and comfort, the advisor fitted draughtproofing tape to seal the gaps and make the space more energy efficient.
Although LEAP had temporarily run out of cookers at the time of the visit, the advisor signposted Mr Owen to other organisations that could assist with white goods. They also arranged for him to receive an air fryer, ensuring he had a safe and energy-efficient way to prepare meals for his family.
Mr Owen said:
“On time, very friendly, informative, understanding, very helpful. Advised us on different things that we didn’t know about and helped us in our moment of need. Thank you.”
Simple Changes, Big Difference: Mrs U’s LEAP Visit
When Mrs U reached out to LEAP, she was looking for advice on how to keep her home warmer and more comfortable. During the visit, the advisor was able to provide several simple but effective improvements to help reduce heat loss and energy use.
Draughtproofing was fitted to her doors and windows, radiator panels were placed behind her radiators to reflect heat back into the room, and energy-saving lightbulbs were installed throughout the property. Mrs U was amazed at how many quick and practical measures could be added during one visit to make such a difference to her home.
Mrs U said:
“Very pleasant indeed, information given 100%. Looking forward to a warmer home.”
Supporting Mr F to Take Control of His Energy Bills
When Mr F contacted LEAP, he needed help setting up his energy accounts. Having not been responsible for his own bills for quite some time, and with limited confidence using the internet, he was unsure where to start.
During the visit, the advisor supported Mr F in finding the best available energy tariff and guided him through setting up a direct debit with his chosen supplier. They also showed him how to take and submit meter readings, helping him to keep his bills accurate and avoid estimated charges.
Before leaving, the advisor fitted a few energy-saving LED lightbulbs to replace missing ones, helping Mr F make his home a little brighter and more efficient.
Mr F said:
“Fantastic, polite, fast. Put me at ease. Great service, all set up and very happy. Thank you.”
Mr Borley’s Story: Reducing Draughts and Improving Comfort
When Mr Borley reached out to LEAP, he explained that his home was cold and difficult to heat. He was struggling particularly with the living room, which had both front and back external doors letting in draughts.
During the visit, the advisor fitted draughtproofing tape around both doors, carefully ensuring they could still shut and lock properly while keeping the warmth in. They also advised Mr Borley to speak with his landlord about improving the property’s loft insulation or to request permission to add more, as the low insulation levels were contributing to the heat loss.
As Mr Borley was eligible for the Priority Services Register. The advisor provided information on how to sign up, along with practical energy-saving advice to help reduce his bills and stay comfortable.
Mr Borley said:
“Very nice, she was very polite and went through everything with me. She also put some insulating tape round doors to help keep me warm overall. Very satisfied with how quick the service was on getting an appointment — thank you.”
Helping Residents Find a Better Energy Deal
One resident shared how helpful her LEAP Home Energy Advisor was during the visit. He took the time to call her energy supplier and even found her a cheaper tariff. Although she’s currently with another supplier, she plans to move to the more affordable option. The advisor found one online for when her exit fees no longer apply. Thanks to LEAP, she now feels confident about making the switch at the right time.
Peace of Mind Through Practical Advice
Another resident was full of praise after her LEAP visit. She said that the advisor covered a huge amount of ground during their session as she had lots of questions. The advisor answered them all, leaving her reassured and much better informed. She said the visit put her mind at ease about several things she’d been worried about.
“Over the Moon” with Support
A resident described her LEAP phone appointment as “so positive and good” that she was, in her own words, “over the moon.” She shared that “Ken was a very knowledgeable person, very reassuring, and very helpful. I really appreciated the help he gave me.” We love hearing feedback like this from those we support.
Support With Landlord Conversations
One resident said she really appreciated being able to “pick the advisor’s brain” during her LEAP appointment. She wanted to ask how to approach her landlord with a few issues. The advice provided gave her the confidence to have that conversation and move forward feeling more assured.
A Friendly, Helpful, and Excellence Experience
Referred to LEAP by her sister, one resident contacted us for general advice and support with her energy bills. She found the booking process simple, and said everyone she spoke to was friendly and helpful. She added that her Home Energy Advisor was excellent and that she was really happy with the overall experience.
Other Case Studies
Need Support? Apply for a Free Home Energy Visit Today
A huge thank you to our Home Energy Advisors, council partners, and referral organisations who make this work possible every day.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this free energy advice and support, don’t wait. You can apply for LEAP directly through our website. It’s quick, simple, and could make a real difference.
ABOUT US
Green Energy Switch (GES) delivers a broad range of energy services across the UK. We specialise in working with social landlords and local authorities. Established in 2006, GES is a subsidiary of environmental charity PECT. We gift-aid any profits to PECT to help fund their vital work. In doing so, we are the lead sponsor of their Forest project. Over 131,000 trees have been planted so far, equating to a remarkable reduction of over 1,300 tonnes of carbon emission.
2 Comments