UPDATE – the deadline to make sure your details are correct with CRT has been extended to 28th August!
After great efforts of the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) and others campaigning for the energy grant, many boaters without a home mooring on CRT waterways can now get £600 each.
The Department for Energy and Net Zero (ESNZ) and CRT made an announcement yesterday that 7,000 live-aboard boaters without a home mooring will receive a voucher redeemable for cash of £600. This is the result of a concerted effort by dedicated people who took up the fight for inclusion.
Due to pressure put on the government by the NBTA and others, if you held a licence as a “continuous cruiser” for a minimum of one day between 27th February 2023 and 31st May 2023 on Canal and River Trust waterways, you will now get one voucher of £600 for the energy grant. This includes £400 for EBSS Alternative Funding and £200 for Alternative Funding – Alternative Fuels (no receipts necessary). If you sold your boat during this period then you will still get the grant retrospectively.
VITALLY IMPORTANT: CRT is handing the database of eligible boaters over to ESNZ on Monday 28th August. To get a voucher you MUST be on the list and (in order of preference) for your e-mail address, phone number and postal address to be up-to-date.
CRT has asked that you confirm your details either by using your on-line CRT account or call CRT Customer Service on 03030 40 40 40 option1. YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE MONDAY 28th AUGUST. ESNZ have informed us that vouchers will be sent (in order of preference) to (a) an e-mail address (first option); (b) if no e-mail address then by SMS to the phone number (second option); or (c) (if no e-mail or phone) by post to the registered postal address (third option). There appears to be no fourth option.
In spite of what the Minster said in June 2022, that all households would get the grant, the voucher scheme only helps itinerant live-aboard boaters who were licensed without a home mooring on CRT water in February, March, April or May 2023: 7,000 people out of a boater population of between 30,000 and 50,000. If you miss out because you were not licensed by CRT during this period, and you think you are eligible for Legal Aid, please contact info@boatingcommunity.org.uk or call 07928 078208.
Tags: Bargee Traveller's Association, continuous cruising, cost of living, Energy Bills Support Scheme, fuel costs, heating, liveaboards, welfare
See http://kanda.boatingcommunity.org.uk/what-to-do-if-you-are-still-excluded-from-the-energy-bills-support-scheme/ for information for those who are still excluded
We do have rising costs, diesel, coal, lpg gas and wood have all gone up massively over the past year. It’s not fair that some liveaboard boaters on leisure moorings (and other people like Travellers living on the road) are still excluded because they can’t prove or don’t have a residential address.
Why only continuance cruisers I thought they have to have a home base ? Cc do not have rising costs like permanent moorers they have no electricity rising costs I jus don’t get it ????