A COMMUNITY group is helping out families keep the lights on this Christmas by launching a new fuel poverty scheme.

The Colchester Anti Loo Roll Brigade has now created a path for struggling families on pay-as-you-go energy meters to get some electricity into their home.

The group donated £1,000 to finance a new scheme with Colchester CAP Debt Centre which will set up a referral system.

When residents are in touch with foodbanks they can also be pointed in the direction of the debt centre which will offer support to help to secure energy.

Brigade founder Peter Dutch said: “We identified one of the main problems for the emergency food providers was they could provide food for people but people didn’t have any electricity.

“It’s just incredible we were able to do this in such as short amount of time. It’s certainly been achievable with the help of the community in Colchester.”

Volunteer Ella Havell, who is client blessing co-ordinator, liaised with Peter to set up to scheme and thinks the donation from the Anti Loo Roll Brigade is amazing.

She said: “We’ll get to the client, get their key, top up their meters and pop it back to them so they’ve all got enough electricity for the Christmas period.

“Peter said that if foodbanks had clients in dire need, they can contact us and we can pass on that money to them so we can help their clients.

“We have 40 families we are working with and delivering hampers to at the moment.

“We’re going to make sure they’re covered because there’s nothing worse than trying to cook Christmas dinner and the power goes off.”

The debt centre will also monitor families going into the new year. Ella added: “It’s been absolutely amazing. People have overwhelmed us this year with their generosity.

“The work Peter and his group has achieved is outstanding and we are all so grateful here at the Colchester CAP Debt Centre.”

According to a Government report, a projected ten per cent of all households in the UK in 2019 are in fuel poverty.