Professor Green launches second phase of British Gas Post Office pop-ups
Professor Green launches second phase of British Gas Post Office Pop-Ups, providing even more people with straight answers to their energy questions
- Following a successful pilot earlier this year, approximately 100 more Pop-Ups are taking place across the country, from October 17thto early next year
- Money and energy advisers funded by British Gas Energy Trust will provide free, independent advice for anyone seeking help
London, 18th October 2022: What if I can’t pay my energy bill? What if I’m on a fixed tariff and do energy saving tips really work? are just some of the nation’s most-asked questions around the energy crisis* today. Despite the wider support available, new research** reveals that more than 7 in 10 people are still worried about how they’ll cope financially, so British Gas partner, Professor Green, is announcing a scaled up, second phase of the British Gas Post Office Pop-Ups. These will provide straight answers to people’s most pressing questions and direct them to the independent advice available through British Gas Energy Trust and the organisations they fund, including how to access grants of up to £1,500.
The scale of this initiative has increased enormously following a successful pilot run of Pop-Ups earlier this year which saw Post Office host over 30 events in 17 locations in collaboration with British Gas and local British Gas Energy Trust funded charitable organisations. The aim of phase two of the Pop-Ups is to reach even more of the country and help thousands more people, with Pop-Ups planned in the following locations from October to early 2023.
- Hackney, London – 17th and 18th October
- Northampton – 18th and 19th October; 7th and 8th November; 5th and 6th December
- Newark, Nottingham – 19th and 20th October
- Sunderland – 20th and 21st October; 9th and 10th November; 7th and 8th December
- West Bromwich – 20th and 21st October; 9th and 10th November; 7th and 8th December
- Blackpool – 24th and 25th October; 14th and 15th November; 12th and 13th December
- Rawtenstall, Lancashire – 25th and 26th October
- St Leonards-on-Sea – 26th and 27th October; 22nd and 23rd November; 14th and 15th December
- Preston – 26th and 27th October; 16th and 17th November; 14th and 15th December
- Dundee – 27th and 28th October
- Albany Road, Cardiff – 31st October and 1st November
- Hecla, Glasgow – 1st and 2nd November
- Hartlepool – 2nd and 3rd November; 16th and 17th November; 6th and 7th December
- Bullwell, Nottingham – 8th and 9th November
- Stoke on Trent, Newcastle-Under-Lyme – 10th and 11th November
- Hanley, Stoke on Trent – 8th and 9th December
- Leicester – 15th November; 13th December
- Accrington, Lancashire – 15th and 16th November
- Maryhill, Glasgow – 17th and 18th November
- Bridgwater, Somerset – 22nd and 23rd November
- Thornhill, Cardiff – 24th and 25th November
- St Ann’s Well Road, Nottingham – 6th and 7th December
- Springburn, Glasgow – 14th and 15th December
The locations of the Pop-Ups planned for early 2023 will be announced in January 2023.
With nearly half (46%) of Brits feeling confused about the support available for their energy bills and over a third (37%) not knowing where to find accurate advice there is a real need for face to face, on the ground initiatives such as these. British Gas Post Office Pop-Ups aim to reassure people, by having their questions and concerns answered by an expert in an environment that’s familiar, safe and local to them. More importantly, at every event money and energy advisers from local British Gas Energy Trust funded charities will be offering an in-depth overview of the support available, signposting people to other organisations who may be able to help, checking benefits entitlements and providing free energy-saving tips and advice.
Jessica Taplin, British Gas Energy Trust Chief Executive said: “The previous Pop-Ups were so well received; we know there’s a real need for even more in-community support, especially when so many people living in vulnerable communities don’t have access to online resources, so these Pop-Ups will be a lifeline to those really struggling this winter. As always, our mission is to help alleviate the detrimental impact of poverty and by working closely with local organisations we are able provide much needed financial and practical support to vulnerable members of the community, whether you’re a British Gas customer or not.”
Nick Read, Post Office Chief Executive said: “Post Offices are at the heart of every community. Millions of people visit our branches each week to pay bills or top up their gas and electricity meters. Postmasters tell us that there are people really struggling to pay their bills and they’re seeing customers come through their door for the first time asking what support is available. So, we’re proud to be partnering with British Gas on such an important initiative to host around 40 Pop-Ups before the end of the year where people can come in and speak to a real human being for energy and debt advice.
Professor Green, rapper and mental health campaigner, has pledged his support to help raise widespread awareness and encourage people to access the help they’re entitled to. He has first-hand experience of the fear and anxiety an upcoming energy bill can have on families, having grown up with his grandmother, who struggled to pay household bills.
Professor Green says: “Times are tough for so many at the moment, it’s more important than ever to make sure people know what help’s available and where to access it. I went down to a British Gas Post Office Pop-Up in my hometown of Hackney yesterday and spoke to the local community – most of whom had no idea about the money and energy advice on offer from the British Gas Energy Trust and their local organisations. With over 100 Pop-Ups happening across the country, I’d urge people to attend one to get answers to their concerns and find out if they’re eligible for a grant, which could help alleviate some of their worries and hopefully improve their financial situation.”
To find out more, click here.
To find out more about your nearest British Gas Post Office Pop-Up, click here.
For further information, please contact the PR team on [email protected].
Full list of locations
The nationwide initiative will be landing in Hackney, London from 17th – 18th October.
Hackney, London | Dalston Post Office, 118-120 Kingsland High Street, E8 2NS | 17th and 18th October | 12-3pm |
Northampton
| Northampton Post Office, 20 St Giles’ Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1AF | 18th and 19th October | 12-3pm |
Nottingham | Newark Post Office, 11 Paxtons Court, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DH | 19th and 20th October | 12-3pm |
Sunderland | Sunderland Post Office, 45-47 Fawcett Street, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR1 1RR | 20th and 21st October | 12-3pm |
West Bromwich | Oldbury Post Office, 4 Birmingham St, Oldbury B69 4DS | 20th and 21st October | 11am-2pm |
Blackpool | Blackpool Post Office, Unit 2B Bickerstaffe House, Cookson Street, FY1 3EF | 24th and 25th October | 12-3pm |
Lancashire | Rawtenstall Post Office, 16 Kay Street, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 7LS | 25th and 26th October | 12-3pm |
Preston | Unit 1 Urban Exchange, 10 Theatre Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8BQ | 26th and 27th October | 12-3pm |
St Leonards-on-Sea | St Leonards-on-Sea Post Office, 12-14 London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 6AA | 26th and 27th October | 12-3pm |
Dundee | Dundee Post Office, 30 Whitehall Street, Dundee, Angus, DD1 4AF | 27th and 28th October | 12-3pm |
Cardiff | Albany Road Post Office, 47-49 Albany Road, Roath, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF24 3YX | 31st October and 1st November | 12-3pm |
Glasgow | Drumchapel Shopping Centre, Hecla Avenue Post Office, Glasgow, Strathclyde, G15 8LZ | 1st and 2nd November | 12-3pm |
Hartlepool | WH Smith, 186A Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool, County Durham, TS24 7RR | 2nd and 3rd November | 12pm-3pm |
Northampton | Northampton Post Office, 20 St Giles Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1AF | 7th and 8th November | 12-3pm |
Nottingham | Bulwell Post Office, Wilkos, 36-48 Main Street, Bulwell, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG6 8EW | 8th and 9th November | 12-3pm |
Sunderland | Sunderland Post Office, 45-47 Fawcett Street, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR1 1RR | 9th and 10th November | 12-3pm |
West Bromwich | Oldbury Post Office, 4 Birmingham St, Oldbury B69 4DS | 9th and 10th November | 11am-2pm |
Stoke on Trent, Newcastle-Under-Lyme | Newcastle-Under-Lyme Post Office, Ryman Stationary, 43 High Street, Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 1PN | 10th and 11th November | 12-3pm |
Blackpool | Blackpool Post Office, Unit 2B Bickerstaffe House, Cookson Street, FY1 3EF | 14th and 15th November | 12-3pm |
Leicester | WH Smiths, 39 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 5GD | 15th November | 12-3pm |
Lancashire | Accrington Post Office, 18 Abbey Street, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 1EB | 15th and 16th November | 12-3pm |
Hartlepool | WH Smith, 186A Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool, County Durham, TS24 7RR | 16th and 17th November | 12-3pm |
Preston | Unit 1 Urban Exchange, Theatre Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8BQ | 16th and 17th November | 12-3pm |
Glasgow | Maryhill Post Office, Tesco Extra, 1201 Maryhill Road, Glasgow, Strathclyde, G20 9SH | 17th and 18th November | 12-3pm |
St Leonards-on-Sea | St Leonards-on-Sea Post Office, 12-14 London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 6AA | 22nd and 23rd November | 12-3pm |
Somerset | Bridgwater Post Office, 27 Eastover, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 5AW | 22nd and 23rd November | 12-3pm |
Cardiff | Thornhill Post Office, District Shopping Centre, Excaliber Drive, Thornhill, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF14 9BB | 24th and 25th November | 12-3pm |
Northampton
| Northampton Post Office, 20 St Giles’ Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1AF | 5th and 6th December | 12-3pm |
Hartlepool | WH Smith, 186A Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool, County Durham, TS24 7RR | 6th and 7th December | 12-3pm |
Nottingham | St Anns Well Road Post Office, 211 St Anns Well Road, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG3 3HR | 6th and 7th December | 12-3pm |
Sunderland | Sunderland Post Office, 45-47 Fawcett Street, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR1 1RR | 7th and 8th December | 12-3pm |
West Bromwich | Oldbury Post Office, 4 Birmingham St, Oldbury B69 4DS | 7th and 8th December | 11am-2pm |
Stoke on Trent | WH Smiths, 255 - 257 The Potteries Shopping Centre, Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 1PS | 8th and 9th December | 12-3pm |
Blackpool | Blackpool Post Office, Unit 2B Bickerstaffe House, Cookson Street, FY1 3EF | 12th and 13th December | 12-3pm |
Leicester | WH Smiths, 39 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 5GD | 13th December | 12-3p |
St Leonards-on-Sea | 12-14 London Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 6AA | 14th and 15th December | 12-3pm |
Preston | Unit 1 Urban Exchange, Theatre Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 8BQ | 14th and 15th December | 12-3pm |
Glasgow | Glasgow Springburn Post Office, Springburn Shopping Centre, 230 Springburn Way, Glasgow, Strathclyde, G21 1BU | 14th and 15th December | 12-3pm |
The locations of the Pop-Ups planned for early 2023 will be announced in January 2023.