Flashy Wings Ministry is a charity that promotes togetherness and community spirit. Through workshops, classes, conferences, coffee mornings, and recreational activities, they provide resources and advice on social, economic and personal issues including personalised energy, debt and bills advice. Their services are focused around empowering women and people from black, brown and other minority ethnic communities in the Southwark area of London. They usually support families on low incomes, single mothers, refugees and migrants and also provide support surrounding domestic violence and mental health.  

SGN Safe and Warm Communities funding has enabled Flashy Wings Ministry to… 

• Provide clients with advice on saving energy, accessing benefits and fuel vouchers, energy schemes, and debt management. 

• Support over 630 households this year with personalised energy advice. 

• Hold carbon monoxide safety workshops educating people on its dangers.  

• Give over 60 CO alarms to clients in need.  

• Help over 320 people sign up to the Priority Services Register – most people didn’t even know it existed! 

After attending the debt workshops, I had the courage to phone my energy provider to discuss my debt; I explained my situation, and I was required to produce some documents as evidence. They were able to eliminate half of my debt and put me on a reasonable repayment schedule. I’m very pleased and optimistic.

We spoke with the Flashy Wings Ministry to find out more about how the SGN Safe & Warm funding supported their work.

How has the funding impacted your organisation?  

We are very grateful for this funding. We did not have much experience in giving energy advice before but felt like we had to deliver this to our community and clients. The funding has enabled us to bridge the gap in our community. Even though the funding is intended to address energy poverty in our community, it has also served as a springboard to other opportunities. As a result of this project, we have received funding for a domestic violence project, funding for health and wellbeing workshop, and funding for emergency food support. 

How do you deliver support to community members? 

We hold regular lunch and breakfast meetings as well as a monthly debt advice surgery for one-to-one advice. We have also been creative in our outreach methods, hosting a green energy party where everyone dressed up and danced, followed by an energy talk at the end. It really grabbed people’s attention.

What advice would you give to other organisations thinking of delivering energy advice in their communities? 

Firstly, to be creative with the activities you are providing. Secondly, that energy is interconnected with other issues, so it’s good to have a broad understanding of your community’s concerns. Lastly, research the other organisations around you to see how you can work together and make local connections.