‘I’ll keep the heating on this Christmas’: Green Doctors help 84-year-old Sheila cut bills and stay warm
Sheila Underwood, 84, from Blackpool was shocked when her energy bills showed almost no gas usage, despite using it daily. Worried that she’d be left with a massive unpaid bill, Sheila turned to Rachel Denby, her local Green Doctor, for help.
“I went to Rachel, and she helped me discover that my smart meter wasn’t communicating with the energy supplier,” Sheila said. “In the end, my account was found to be £1,000 in credit.”
Who are the Green Doctors?
Green Doctors, a programme run by national charity Groundwork that supports communities, is a network of trained energy-efficiency advisors working across the UK to help households stay warm and save money.
Rachel visited Sheila’s home to carry out a full energy assessment and find ways to bring her bills down.
“She fitted draught tape around my doors and windows, added draught excluders, swapped out old light bulbs for LEDs, and put foil behind the radiators,” Sheila said. “I use less gas and electricity now.”
Rachel also helped Sheila switch energy suppliers to get a cheaper deal — a crucial move for someone on a fixed income.
“She sorted everything,” Sheila said. “She’s brilliant!”
Rachel works from Grange Community Centre every Tuesday, supporting local residents through advice and home visits.
“I go around the local community centres, meet people, and build relationships,” Rachel explained. “It’s about trust. Once people know we’re here to help, they open up.”
From the building trade, to saving lives
Not far away in South Yorkshire, Alan Spall is a Green Doctor co-ordinator.
Before joining the Green Doctors, Alan spent a decade in the building trade. “I was knocking things down,” he laughs, “but I wanted to do something that made a difference to save things instead.”
After completing a Master's in sustainability, he found his calling during the pandemic, starting out with virtual consultations and emergency support for vulnerable households.
“One of my first calls was with a single mum in her 30s — she was desperate,” Alan recalls. “When she told me, ‘You’ve saved my life,’ that was the moment I knew this work really mattered.”
Alan explains that they support a wide range of people, including homeowners, renters, and tenants, particularly families, older adults, and those with health conditions. Many of the people they help are afraid to switch the heating on due to rising costs.
“We give them the tools and confidence to stay warm without worrying,” he said.
Simple changes that save money
For Sheila, that help also came in the form of an electric throw for her daily “nanny nap.”
“I just put my recliner back. The sunshine comes through my bay window, the telly’s on, and I nod off for a couple of hours,” she said with a smile. “And it only costs 3p an hour to run!”
Sheila has also switched to an air fryer, which uses far less energy than her oven — another small change that’s saving her money.
Much of the Green Doctors’ impact comes from practical fixes like fitting extractor fans, adding radiator foil, or showing people how to use their heating controls effectively. These small changes can significantly reduce energy use and bills, especially for those unsure how to manage their systems.
They also connect households with emergency support such as Fuel Bank Foundation vouchers and work with landlords and councils to resolve long-term problems like damp, mould, and poor insulation.
“Too many pensioners put bills first and go without warmth. But now I’ve got support, I don’t have to choose. I’ll be keeping the heating on this Christmas.” said Sheila.