Seeking freelancer in Manchester

Picture of megaphone announcing "we are hiring"

Local hub support role – self-employed

Following the successful launch of our first local group, in Glasgow, Fuel Poverty Action wants to develop a hub in Manchester.

We are looking to engage a freelancer to help establish this hub, which will support residents of Manchester and Greater Manchester to take meaningful action against fuel poverty. As well as to provide some remote additional capacity to the Glasgow hub.

About the role
This fixed-term role involves recruiting a small Steering Group for the Manchester hub, and supporting them to lead and develop the group as a focal point for energy justice campaigns in Greater Manchester.

By the end of the eight months, the aim is to have the Manchester hub successfully established and able to self-organise with light-touch support from FPA.

The ideal applicant will have experience in community organising or community development and training, and a background in campaigning. They will be passionate about FPA’s aims and believe in the power of people coming together to demand change.

Terms and conditions
Period: May to December 2024 (32 weeks/8 months)
Hours: By agreement, estimated at around 10-15 hours per week or 6-8 days per month Will include daytime hours as well as evening (and occasional weekend) meetings
Pay: £22-27 per hour, negotiable depending on experience
Location: Within commutable distance of central Manchester
Reporting to: FPA Organising Lead

The successful applicant will be engaged on a self-employed basis and responsible for their own tax and National Insurance contributions. They will require access to wi-fi, mobile phone and a personal laptop.

FPA acknowledges that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in progressive movements and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this. We aim to provide equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background, and to be a truly anti-racist organisation. We are therefore particularly keen to receive applications from communities experiencing racism; disabled people; people who identify as being LGTBQIA; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead outreach to organisations and networks to recruit members to a hub Steering Group
  • Provide admin and logistical support to the Steering Group, including ensuring that meetings are well-attended and accessible
  • Support Steering Group members to develop their own organising skills (using materials and training toolkits designed by FPA or other partners)
  • Support activities that members choose to take on, including comms support and attendance at meetings and actions, until the group is able to do this itself
  • Design and develop further toolkits (alongside FPA staff) as needed to upskill the membership
  • Liaise closely with FPA staff via a range of communications channels
  • Flag wellbeing/access needs in the Manchester hub for FPA staff to address
  • Occasional travel to Glasgow or FPA national meetings

Person specificationEssential

  • Experience of working or volunteering in a campaigning environment
  • Experience of building, fostering and supporting diverse teams of people
  • Meeting organisation and facilitation experience – in-person and remotely
  • Excellent interpersonal awareness
  • Ability to creatively overcome challenges by presenting new ideas
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to build strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders
  • IT literacy, including Zoom, Canva and simple image and video editing tools
  • Proficiency in using social media and other communications channels e.g. WhatsApp, Slack, Signal, Instagram, X and Facebook
  • Highly organised, self-directed and adaptable
  • A passion for justice and political engagement

Person specificationDesirable

  • Graphic design skills
  • A background in environmental, anti-poverty or housing justice activism
  • Connections to social movements and trades unions in Manchester
  • Experience working with volunteers and vulnerable groups
  • Experience in encouraging activists to self-organise
  • Experience of creating campaign toolkits
  • An understanding of climate and fuel poverty issues and how they intersect
  • An understanding of how to build an effective strategic campaign

How to apply
Please send a CV and a short covering letter (max. one page A4) covering three questions:

  • Why are you applying for this role?
  • What relevant experience do you have for this role?
  • What excites you about working with FPA?

You should send your application to [email protected] by no later than 9am on Monday 29th April, with the subject title: [Your Name] Hub Support Worker application.
Selected candidates will be invited to interview on Weds 1st May. We would like the work to start as soon as possible.
Please visit fuelpovertyaction.org.uk for more information about FPA, and contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

About Fuel Poverty Action
FPA is a campaigning organisation at the heart of the fight for warm, well-insulated homes and clean and affordable energy, under the control of people and communities, not private companies and the fossil fuel industry. We care passionately about climate change, and want to see the UK’s energy system decarbonised as rapidly as possible with a just transition for communities and workers. Alongside pensioners groups, disabled campaigners, tenants’ organisations and others on the frontline of fuel poverty, we’re using protest and direct action to fight for real, sustainable solutions to the cold homes crisis.

People nationwide Unite 4 Energy For All

On Wednesday 6th March, the day of the final budget announcement before a General Election, groups including Unite Community, National Pensioners Convention, Medact, Homes For All, DPAC, Friends of the Earth and more joined together in support of #EnergyForAll!

Nearly a year on from the launch of our Manifesto, a diverse coalition are actively pointing to our demand as the solution to the energy price crisis.

The day kicked off with a ‘Cold Homes Kill’ banner drop during the morning rush hour in Chesterfield. Protestors caught the attention of passengers at Birmingham New Street Station, with a die-in and mock funeral processions passed through Manchester and Leeds city centres. Locals held demos and outreach stalls across towns and cities in England, Scotland and Wales. One of the largest demos across the country took place in Westminster itself as the Spring Budget was announced. The crowd was addressed by MPs including Zahra Sultana.

Check out media coverage from The Canary and the Morning Star.

And share social media on TwitterInstagram and Facebook.

National Day of Action – 6th March

On 6th March, FPA will join Unite Community, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) and many more to Unite 4 Energy For All and protest the number of people suffering due to cold and damp homes.

On March 6th, the government will announce its Spring Budget, which will likely be the last budget before a general election. Throughout austerity, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ‘cost of living’ crisis, government’s policies have actively contributed to hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths. Join us to demand an end to deaths fuelled by poverty.

Events are being planned in:

  • Barnsley – Meet 12.00 at Tower Centre Precinct near Coffee Boy.
  • Birmingham – Meet 12.00 New Street Station.
  • Bristol – Meet 11.30 at Tony Benn House, Victoria St, BS1 6AY.
  • Exeter – Meet 13.00 at Exeter Central Train Station.
  • Glasgow (8th March) – Meet 12.00 at The Platform Cafe, Easterhouse.
  • Halifax – Meet 12.00 at Southgate, above Market.
  • Ipswich – Meet 11.00 outside Boots, Tavern Street.
  • Irvine (5th March) – Meet 12.30, Bridgegate.
  • Leeds – Meet 11.30 outside Leeds Bus Station (John Lewis End).
  • London – Meet 12.00 at College Green (Abingdon Street Gardens), SW1P 3SE.
  • Manchester – Meet 13.00 outside Boots, Market Street.
  • Newcastle – Meet 11.00 at Grey’s Monument.
  • Newport – Meet 12.00 John Frost Square outside Kingsway Centre, NP20 1ED.
  • Norwich (5th March) – Meet 11.00 outside the Market, Gentleman’s Walk.
  • Portsmouth – Meet 12.00 outside Civic Offices.
  • Sheffield – Meet 12.00 outside the Moor Market.
  • Southampton –   Meet 11.00 outside Poundland, Above Bar Shopping Precinct.
  • Swansea – Meet 11.00 outside Quadrant Shopping Centre.           

Contact [email protected] to connect with local groups.

Guest blog: Lambeth Tenants Heat Campaign

Lambeth Town Hall

LAMBETH RESIDENTS FACE EVICTION WHEN WE CAN’T PAY ENERGY BILLS

As seen on BBC Morning Live, 15th December 2024

This guest blog has been prepared by tenants and residents of several Lambeth housing estates who have come together to form the Lambeth Tenants Heat Campaign, with support from Fuel Poverty Action and London Tenants Federation. More affected residents and other supportive organisations and individuals are now getting in touch.  

The blog includes the residents’ demands, background information, personal testimonies (anonymous and otherwise), statements of support, and their contact address.  They have written to Lambeth Council requesting an urgent meeting. 

Lambeth Tenants Heat Campaign can be contacted at [email protected]

Go here to read it.

Still from Morning Live report

Our largest mobilisation ever!

At the beginning of December, over 30 events took place across the UK demanding an end to fuel poverty!

Warm Ups took place at offices of three of the big five UK energy companies, in three different nations. Unite Community held Warm Ups and community outreach stalls in shopping centres, markets and town centres from Southend-on-Sea to the Isle of Arran!

For more detail, read this fantastic roundup from The Canary reporting from inside a Warm Up in The Glades Shopping Centre, Bromley.

We knew that one weekend of action would not be enough to win energy justice. But our pressure has been felt with progress on some of our demands.

Forced prepayment meters were due to resume in November, but Ofgem has been forced to delay the restart until 2024. And Ofgem is finally agreeing to review its unfair standing charges. We won’t stop fighting to permanently ban forced PPMs and abolish standing charges.

Join us and take action through Get Involved – Energy For All.

Join or organise a #WarmUp this December!

✊Click out our #WarmUp This Winter Action Pack for all the resources you need to take part on 1st and 2nd December.

🍄Go here to Register your Warm Up (or use the form below if you have an Action Network login)

📍Go here or see the map below to find your nearest local action.

🔥Use our guide on How to Organise a Warm Up.

💻 Email [email protected] to be connected with your local organisers!

#BanForcedPPMs #EnergyForAll #ColdHomesKill #EndWinterDeaths

Take action this winter!

FPA members with banner

As temperatures begin to drop this Autumn, our blood boils at facing another winter with the political choice of fuel poverty.

Both main political parties seem to accept that sky-high energy bills are the new reality.

Take Action

Help us to fight this government’s culture war against the just and green transition we all need. A green new deal that guarantees heat and light to everyone.

Order free #EnergyForAll stickers to put up in your local area. QR codes will guide more people to our events and trainings.

Register for training to organise or take part in #WarmUp protests all around the country in December. See the growing list of actions below!

Join our team and look out for announcements of more events and actions.

And share this post from TwitterInstagram and Facebook!

Tell Ofgem to scrap the standing charge

e4a and FPA logos

Ofgem are coming under pressure to end the unfair standing charge on energy bills, which now stands at £25 a month before we have used a single watt of energy.

Ofgem has agreed to think about it a bit more, and make an announcement “within weeks”, but they are not seeking advice from fuel poverty organisations.

Please use this form to send a letter to the CEO Jonathan Brearley and ask your MP to do the same, so Ofgem can be in no doubt that it’s time to get rid of the standing charge.

Thanks for taking action!

#EnergyForAll in Parliament

On July 4th, around 30 MPs from parties including Conservatives, Labour, SNP and Liberal Democrats attended our Energy For All Manifesto Parliamentary Launch.

12 new MPs signed the Manifesto there with more doing so since, bringing our total to over 25 MPs! Others have agreed to follow ups or meetings about elements of Energy For All or other fuel poverty issues we campaign on.

This event marked a huge first step towards broadening parliamentary support for an Energy Pricing Revolution. On the road to next year’s General Election, we will continue to lobby MPs and pressure parties to adopt these crucial measures to bring down bills for good.

On the eve of our parliamentary launch, we surpassed 200 signatures on the Manifesto. War on Want is the latest organisation to add it’s name to our list of supporters and watch 350.org‘s explainer video on why we need #EnergyForAll.

You can help build support for this demand at a grassroots level by taking a motion to your trade union branch.

Help us take our campaign to the next level. Donate now!

The Energy Pricing Revolution hits Westminster

Campaigners marching past parliament with an Energy For All banner and petition box

On July 4th, we’re taking our #EnergyForAll Manifesto to Parliament.

We need your help to ensure that MPs of all parties hear about our launch event and the demand for Energy For All!

Ask your MP to attend our Manifesto launch and sign in support of our demand for a cheaper, greener and fairer energy pricing system! Click here.

Based in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

You can also write to your devolved parliamentary representatives to ask them to add their name in support of the Manifesto! Click here.

Our Manifesto has been signed by over 150 organisations, community groups, businesses and elected officials so far.

Let’s keep that growing to build as much pressure as possible on MPs and parties to support. Take the Manifesto to your local community group, councillor’s surgery or union branch using our model motion and sign here.

You can read the full content of our Manifesto and view our full list of supporters at energyforall.org.uk.

Our Manifesto

On 23rd March, we launched a Manifesto for Energy For All. The Manifesto promises an Energy Pricing Revolution for a cheaper, greener and fairer energy pricing system to meet everyone’s needs.

Organisations, community groups, trade unions and more can sign to support. And as individuals you can email your MP asking them to sign!

See the list of groups that have signed so far. And watch the launch event with speakers including Ruth London, John McDonnell MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Clive Lewis MP, Paula Peters, Ian Hodson and Indigo Rumbelow.

Energy For All Manifesto Launch!

Join us this Thursday 23rd March 6.30 – 7.45pm for the online launch of our Manifesto!

Speakers to include Clive Lewis MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Anne McLaughlin MP and John McDonnell MP. Alongside Ian Hodson of Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, Mia Watanabe from the Warm This Winter Coalition, Paula Peters from DPAC, Indigo Rumbelow of Just Stop Oil and others.

We call on organisations, trade and tenants unions, community and faith groups, MPs, local authorities and distinguished individuals to sign in support of our Manifesto.

Email your MP asking them to do so now!

Join with groups including:

  • New Economics Foundation
  • End Fuel Poverty Coalition
  • Public and Commercial Services Union
  • Debt Justice
  • Disabled People Against Cuts
  • Don’t Pay
  • Global Justice Now
  • Social Housing Action Campaign
  • Tax Justice UK
  • Tipping Point UK
  • Uplift
  • Just Stop Oil
  • ACORN the Union and Living Rent
  • Power to the People
  • Breakthrough Party