Vulnerability partners reflect on winter challenges as part of SGN collaboration event

Around 150 vulnerability specialists from 130 organisations have joined energy network business SGN, who has an office in Edinburgh, at a conference to explore how to make homes across the UK warmer, safer and healthier.

Our Winter’s End Safe and Warm Partnership Conference 2025 in London brought together experts from organisations such as Age Scotland, Citizens Advice, Energy Systems Catapult, Fuel Bank Foundation, National Energy Action and Scope, who are all part of our Safe & Warm partnership network supporting vulnerable people in the communities we serve.

Experts from the energy, advice, government and charity sectors took part in panel sessions and open discussions to share the real world impact of financial cuts on the communities they’re helping and the daily challenges faced by individuals to keep their homes safe and warm, particularly during the colder months.

It was a crucial opportunity for delegates to reflect on the challenges experienced during the winter and share their insight, as well as collaborate on ways to work together in future to support vulnerable communities across SGN’s network areas in southern England and Scotland.

Together, we have so far supported 693,956 households and we expect this number to rise significantly over the coming months.

Held as a hybrid event, the conference had live interviews from key specialists streamed to the online audience, providing an opportunity for all partners to meet and discuss opportunities to collaborate with one another. We’ll be using discussions from the event to inform how we can evolve our partnership network and find new opportunities to plug gaps in support.

A key theme which emerged from the conference was the impact that cuts to benefits are having on the vulnerable people who our attendees are helping every day. Also, the value which our partner organisations create in supporting people who need extra help.

The conference opened with a keynote speech from National Energy Action Chief Executive Adam Scorer, who spoke about the need for local energy plans to be aligned with health plans in communities. He highlighted the long-term commitment of partners to our Safe & Warm network that enables organisations to provide enduring support.

Some of the key highlights from attendees included:

  • Molly Shevlin from Citizens Advice Scotland said they’re seeing people with issues that are complex and multilayered, requiring dedicated support from multiple organisations.
  • Rachel Boland from Age UK Oxfordshire highlighted a new challenge they’ve seen this winter of pensioners experiencing longer wait times for an outcome on pension credit applications.
  • Lee Healey from IncomeMax said that although digital exclusion can be a barrier to some vulnerable people obtaining the support and benefits they’re entitled to, many people are keen to use digital solutions to boost their income.
  • Helen Stockton from National Energy Action highlighted how net zero solutions need to be designed with vulnerable people in mind, with Bridget Newbery from Centre for Sustainable Energy adding that conversations around net zero need to be with people and not to people, and need to be meaningful to people’s everyday lives in order to engage them. She also discussed the need to check people who receive new technologies know how to use them.
  • Stella Osan from Mencap Croydon spoke out about the rising issue of damp in vulnerable homes, with stories she’s heard of landlords painting over dangerous black mould instead of working with tenants to tackle the problem. Richard DeNiese of Mencap Worthing added that it can often lead to people with autism struggling to make the right short-term decisions of keeping windows open to help remove the mould or to keep them closed in order to keep in the heat.

Maureen McIntosh, Director of Customer Service at SGN, explained how hosting the conference is part of SGN’s work to bring partners together to support vulnerable customers to use energy safely, efficiently and affordably.

She said: “We really appreciate how many people took the time to attend and take part in our Winter’s End partners conference. It highlights the importance of working together as we face the challenges that winter brings to communities across the UK. 

We’re truly humbled by the passion our collaborative partners have in ensuring we give everyone the ability to stay safe and warm all year round. Our ambition is always that we never have to walk away from a customer in need.

We want to create a legacy of people staying informed and supported and together with our partners, we can break down the stigma of accessing benefits and support.

For more information on how SGN partners with other organisations to support vulnerable households, visit https://www.sgn.co.uk/about-us/supporting-vulnerable-households

No tax changes for online sellers

  • Online platforms to start sharing some user sales and personal data with HMRC from January 2025
  • HMRC confirms there are no changes to tax rules for people selling their unwanted possessions online
  • Guidance for sellers can be found on GOV.UK

People selling unwanted items online can continue to do so with confidence and without any new tax obligations, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.

The reminder comes as online platforms start sharing sales data with HMRC from January 2025 – a new process that, when announced last year, generated inaccurate claims that a new tax was being introduced. 

But whether selling last year’s festive jumper, getting some money back for a child’s outgrown baby clothes, or quietly offloading an unwanted Christmas present or two – absolutely nothing has changed for online sellers. 

For anyone who is unsure if their additional income could be taxable just search ‘online platform income’ on GOV.UK to use HMRC’s free online tool or download the HMRC app and go to the ‘news’ section under the ‘communication’ tab for more information.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, said: “We cannot be clearer – if you are not trading and just occasionally sell unwanted items online – there is no tax due.

“As has always been the case, some people who are trading through websites or selling services online may need to be paying tax and registering for Self Assessment.”

The new reporting requirements for digital platforms came into effect at the start of 2024. It is not a new tax and whether people are selling personal items on eBay, renting homes out on Airbnb or delivering takeaways through Just Eat – no tax rules have changed. 

Those who sold at least 30 items or earned roughly £1,700 (equivalent to €2,000), or provided a paid-for service, on a website or app in 2024 will be contacted by the digital platform in January to say their sales data and some personal information will be sent to HMRC due to new legal obligations.

The sharing of sales data does not automatically mean the individual needs to complete a tax return.

However, those who may need to register for Self Assessment and pay tax, include those who:

  • buy goods for resale or make goods with the intention of selling them for a profit 
  • offer a service through a digital platform – such as being a delivery driver or letting out a holiday home through a website
  • AND generate a total income from trading or providing services online of more than £1,000 before deducting expenses in any tax year

HMRC wants to help people get their tax right. Anyone unsure whether to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2023 to 2024 tax year or not, can check on GOV.UK. If new to Self Assessment, they can register on GOV.UK.

HMRC is working alongside online platforms to ensure sellers receive clear guidance on their tax responsibilities.

Waterfront Event: You said, We did

Live around Granton Waterfront? We asked for your views on proposals for the 1st phase of our £1.3bn regeneration of the area.

Come to Granton Station Building, Granton Station Square, on Wednesday 23 August from 4pm – 7pm to find out how we have taken your views on board.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/grantonevent

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum meets tomorrow

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum meets online tomorrow at 1.30pm for the first session of 2022.

AGENDA:

1)      Welcome and Introductions

2)      Update on Adult Learning Consultation – Fay Butler

3)      Support with fuel bills and heating – Niall Murphy

4)      Community Benefits Portal – Claire Darlow

5)      Craigroyston High School support needs – Morag Wilson

6)      Group Updates

7)      AOB and next meeting

The meeting will take place on Zoom.

For login details please contact Kate Barrett, EVOC Community Planning Development Worker: telephone 0131 555 9100 or email kate.barrett@evoc.org.uk

Voluntary Sector Forum to meet this afternoon

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum will meet online via Zoom this afternoon (Tuesday 28 September) at 1:30pm.

We will use the below agenda to guide our discussion:

1.        Welcome and Introductions

2.        New online community portal for north Edinburgh

3.       Community Planning update

4.       LOG update

5.       Members update

6.     VSF attendance – are we making the most of the forum?            

7.       AOB and next meeting.

For Zoom login details contact Kate Barrett, EVOC Development Worker – Community Planning, by email at kate.barrett@evoc.org.uk

Voluntary Sector Forum to meet next week

Forth and Inverleith Voluntary Sector Forum will meet on Tuesday 20 July at 1pm via Zoom

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84802007045?pwd=WmU3REQrL2ZNa3NEVDg4Zlp3TkVGdz09

Meeting ID: 848 0200 7045

Passcode: 991758

We will use this following agenda to guide our discussion:

1 Welcome and Introductions

2 Pilton Community Health Project and ASH Scotland present on new work addressing smoking rates in areas of deprivation (see below)

3 Evaluating Third Sector contribution to LIP priority 3 – tackling poverty and inequality

4 LOG Update

5 Training Opportunities for third sector (EVOC)

6 Member update

Hope to see you there,

KATE BARRETT

EVOC Development Worker – Community Planning

Events, dear boy (and girl), events …!

Harold-Macmillan1

Does your group or organisation have an important event coming up? Is there a meeting you want to publicise? If so, and you’d like to spread the word to a wider audience, get in touch – we’d be delighted to promote  your information for FREE on our nice new website, and on our Facebook page too!

Email northedinnews@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you!