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Miatta Fahnbulleh MP Visit

October 1, 2024

In December last year, Fuel Bank Foundation opened its 750th Fuel Bank centre in south London, in partnership with a local food bank. As well as running a community food hub, the foodbank provides vital services to people in the local area, such as organising activities for the elderly, vulnerable and families.

Lyn and Natasha, who run the centre, along with their team of dedicated volunteers, do an amazing job in what are challenging times for charities and community centres such as theirs.

On a recent visit, I was pleased to welcome Miatta Fahnbulleh, MP for Peckham and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Consumers at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, to the centre to meet the team and discuss the issues faced by people who rely on the centre and Fuel Bank to help put food on the table and keep their home warm.

As Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta’s responsibilities include fuel poverty and issues relating to prepayment meters, Ofgem consumer elements and the energy price cap, amongst others. It’s a difficult role, but one I’m sure Miatta is more than capable of doing.

Before going into politics, Miatta was instrumental in laying the foundations that led to Fuel Bank becoming a charity, so she understands the challenges people are facing.

During the visit, we heard first-hand how fuel poverty and fuel crisis is ‘becoming the norm’ and just accepted by people who feel like they have no way out. We also heard examples of people regularly going without because they can’t afford to top up their prepayment energy meter, such as those who live on cold sandwiches because they don’t have the means to cook a meal or pensioners who are isolated and cold but are too proud to admit they need help.

Sadly, these examples aren’t unique. We hear countless similar stories from our Fuel Bank Centres across the UK.

In Peckham, Miatta’s constituency, Fuel Bank Foundation has helped nearly 750 people since Easter. And this is during the warmer weather months, when household energy usage is typically lower. Increasingly, we are seeing more people turning to Fuel Bank for help during the summer, such is the level of fuel poverty.

As a charity, with the support of our partners across the UK, we are continuing to do all we can to help the people who need it most. But we can’t do it alone. We need the support of government, both financially and through policy change, to really make a difference.

In Miatta, we have a friend with a sympathetic ear who I know will champion our cause in Whitehall and I’m looking forward to further productive meetings.