With ever-increasing energy costs, the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) charity has a number of grants available to help current, former, or retired, railway staff who have worked on UK railways for at least one year.

The charity’s ‘Energy Support Fund’ was launched in April last year, and offers a grant of up to £200 to support recipients with the cost of their gas and electricity bills.

To be eligible for the Energy Support Fund, applicants must have worked on UK railways for at least one year, have a gross annual household income of less than £40,000, and less than £3,000 in capital if a single person or £5,000 if a couple.

The grant is available to current, former, and retired, railway workers. Manchester Citizens Advice to each applicant about budgeting and how to adjust to changing costs. They will also be advised what other grants they may be eligible for.

Since launching the Fund, the charity has been overwhelmed with applications, which highlights the need for support in the industry. Over 60% of all grant applications made to Fund since October have been related to energy costs. As average UK energy prices increased by 27% in October and a further 20% increase is expected in April, the charity expects to receive applications from hundreds more railway people as thee prices continue to soar and temperatures drop.

Nearly one-third of applications to the Fund have also been found to require urgent need of further financial support, often due to mounting debts. The charity is able to offer support for a number of these other costs, including housing, white goods, and funerals.