Working with Derbyshire County Council to support vulnerable rural households
Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD) is proud to be supporting residents across the county through a new fund launched by Derbyshire County Council (DCC) to help households struggling with the rising cost of heating oil and LPG.
The fund, backed by government funding announced in response to global price increases linked to ongoing conflict and instability in the Middle East, is designed to support low‑income and vulnerable households who are not connected to the mains gas network. Around 7,800 Derbyshire households rely on heating oil, with a further 3,000 using LPG, many of whom have seen fuel costs rise sharply in a short space of time.
Up to £311,000 is available across Derbyshire to help households facing immediate difficulty in heating their homes or providing hot water. Where eligible, support of up to £350 may be available towards the cost of heating oil or LPG, paid directly to fuel suppliers. In exceptional circumstances, the fund may cover the full cost of fuel, up to the equivalent of 500 litres.
As DCC’s trusted delivery partner, RAD will support the enrolment of successful applicants receiving heating oil support. Once a household has been assessed as eligible by DCC, we will help sign them up to our Community Oil Buying Scheme and arrange delivery through our supplier, Peak Energy. For LPG support, payments will be made directly to a household’s usual supplier.
Emma Simpson, CEO of Rural Action Derbyshire, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Derbyshire County Council to help deliver this vital support for residents who rely on heating oil or LPG.
We understand the unique challenges faced by rural households living off the mains gas network, and we are proud to play our part in ensuring this help reaches those who need it most. I would also like to thank Peak Energy for their commitment to supporting this work and helping deliver fuel across Derbyshire.”
To be eligible for the fund, households must:
- Be low income and either in receipt of a means‑tested benefit or assessed as in need following a financial assessment
- Have at least one vulnerable household member, for example due to age, disability, chronic health conditions, or caring responsibilities
- Rely on heating oil or LPG as the main source of heating or hot water and have an urgent need for fuel (less than 30% tank capacity remaining)
- Applications and eligibility assessments are being managed directly by Derbyshire County Council through their Discretionary Fund team. The scheme cannot support fuel that has already been ordered or delivered.
Residents seeking help should apply via the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund online form or by calling 01629 533399, clearly stating that they are applying for support with heating oil or LPG. Further information is also available on Derbyshire County Council’s dedicated webpages.
RAD is committed to working alongside partners to support rural and vulnerable communities and ensure no household is left without essential heating during times of rising living costs.
