Joanne works full time as a GP receptionist and is a mum to two children. As the sole earner in her household, she had always managed her finances carefully. However, as the cost of living continued to rise, her income could no longer stretch far enough to cover essential household bills.

Despite working full time, Joanne began falling behind. Council tax arrears grew to over £1,400, while energy debt reached £300. Each month became increasingly stressful, with difficult decisions about how to prioritise spending and keep her home warm.

To recover the energy debt, Joanne’s energy supplier began automatically deducting a third of every prepayment meter top up. This left her with limited credit to heat her home and made it harder to reduce the overall balance, creating a cycle that felt difficult to escape.

Finding the right support

Joanne was referred to the Lightning Reach portal, where she was matched with available support and introduced to YES Energy Solutions.

The application process was simple and quick, helping Joanne access support without adding further pressure at an already challenging time.

How YES Energy Solutions helped

YES Energy Solutions provided practical and immediate support to help ease Joanne’s situation, including:

£112 in energy vouchers to reduce her outstanding energy debt

An energy saving pack, including draught excluders, to help keep heat in and reduce ongoing energy costs

The vouchers cleared Joanne’s remaining energy balance, removing the immediate financial pressure she had been living with and allowing her to focus on managing her wider household finances.

Regaining control and looking ahead

With her energy debt cleared, Joanne was able to refocus on paying down her council tax arrears and regain a sense of control over her finances. The support did more than address an immediate issue. It helped restore stability and confidence at a critical time.

Joanne now hopes others in a similar position will seek support if they are struggling, even if they are working and doing their best to cope.

Need support with your energy bills?

If you or someone you know is struggling with energy costs, help may be available.

YES Energy Solutions works with trusted partners to support households who need it most.

“The support helped me get out of the situation I was in and took away that immediate panic.
It’s made everything much easier to manage.”