A charity supporting those struggling to pay their energy bills is to expand across Northern Ireland after opening its first branch.
In the past few weeks, the Fuel Bank Foundation has launched its first centre in Derry in order to support the people of the city with the rising cost of living and energy bills.
In the coming weeks and months, the charity is planning to open further centres across Northern Ireland, with aims to provide support in rural areas and villages along with towns and cities.
Read more: Consumer Council advice as energy bills to increase in Northern Ireland this week
The charity primarily operates in partnership with other organisations such as food banks, community groups and advice agencies so that it is in the best place for people who need their help to access it.
The charity has operated in England, Scotland and Wales for the past six years and it has only recently expanded its support into Northern Ireland.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Matthew Cole, the head of the Fuel Foundation said: "We have been providing support for people in need in Britain for a number of years now and have seen that there is an ever growing need for our service across Northern Ireland.
"Heating oil and gas are triple the price that they were last year and we hope that we will be able to do something to ease people's struggles this winter.
"In the past couple of weeks we have soft launched our first centre in Foyle in Derry and over the coming weeks and months we will be expanding across Northern Ireland.
"We know that fuel poverty is not just something that is isolated to cities and towns, with rural areas and villages often not having support available for them. Because of that, we are keen to ensure that everyone who is in need in Northern Ireland will be able to avail of our support if they are in need and we are looking to expand everywhere we possibly can to do so.
"We are very thankful to the partners that we will be working within Northern Ireland and we hope that we will be able to alleviate the pressures on struggling households."
If you would like to donate to or find out more information about the Fuel Bank Foundation please follow this link.
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