Connect with us

Published

on

Energy suppliers need to do more to help vulnerable customers this winter, the industry’s regulator has said, with “severe weaknesses” found in the practice of five suppliers.

Ofgem said failings included customers missing out on free gas safety checks, vulnerable customers not being offered the support they need, and ensuring those on prepayment meters are identified and supported.

Although some good practice was identified, all 17 suppliers need to make further improvements.

Good Energy, Outfox, SO Energy, TruEnergy, and Utilita were judged the worst by Ofgem.

Severe weaknesses mean it “either found that a significant proportion of the supplier’s processes and policies were missing or inadequate, or their data indicated that they are not achieving good consumer outcomes”.

Moderate weaknesses were found in E (Gas & Electricity), Ecotricity, Green Energy UK, Octopus and Shell.

This means the supplier “did not have some of the policies or processes in place that we would expect, or the training and guidance available to their staff was not at the level we considered necessary”.

More on Cost Of Living

‘Much more needs to be done’

“We may also have found some poor performance data,” Ofgem added.

Minor weaknesses were identified in British Gas, Bulb, EDF, E.ON, Ovo, Scottish Power and Utility Warehouse. This means Ofgem did not find any evidence of significant concern.

Neil Lawrence, director of retail at Ofgem, said: “From eligible customers who are missing out on free gas safety checks through to companies not identifying vulnerable customers to be offered obvious support on the Priority Services Register, this robust review has highlighted that suppliers need to do more to support consumers.

“We welcome the cooperation from suppliers and action taken so far, and, although we are seeing some very good practice in parts of the industry, we can see there is still much more to be done.

“Most suppliers take the protection of vulnerable customers seriously, and several good initiatives to support customers have been launched recently.”

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

“While it’s encouraging to see the engagement on this Market Compliance Review, with some improvement actions already taking place, we’ve seen a number of failings across the board which need to be urgently addressed,” Mr Lawrence added.

“It’s going to be a very challenging winter for everyone, and customers must be confident they are getting the help and support they need.

“My message to suppliers today is simple – be proactive. Help your customers to know what support is available, and then deliver it.”

Ofgem said suppliers have engaged positively with the process and, since receiving their indicative ratings in October, are taking swift action to make the improvements needed.

Continue Reading

UK

Kris Hallenga, founder of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, dies aged 38

Published

on

By

Kris Hallenga, founder of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, dies aged 38

Kris Hallenga, the founder of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel!, has died aged 38.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 23 and lived with the illness for 15 years, tirelessly campaigning for breast cancer awareness in that time.

A statement on the charity’s website said: “She hasn’t lost a battle, she wasn’t in a fight and she certainly wouldn’t want you to see her death as tragic.

“She was simply living. She was 38 and died with fulfilment and a heart full of love.”

Ms Hallenga’s breast cancer was terminal by the time it was diagnosed in 2009.

“Kris’ ambition was for no one else to find themselves in her position and so CoppaFeel! was born, to ensure breast cancers are diagnosed early and accurately,” the charity said.

Describing her as “founder, boob chief, colleague, friend and queen of glittering turds”, CoppaFeel! said she was “the biggest promoter of being ‘alive to do those things'”.

“She approached life in a wildly creative, fun and fearless way, and showed us that it is possible to live life to the full with cancer.”

Last year Ms Hallenga threw a living funeral, where guests were invited to sign a cardboard replica of her coffin and childhood footage was projected around Truro Cathedral in Cornwall.

Dawn French did the eulogy in character as the Vicar of Dibley, while Ms Hallenga gave a speech and sparkled in a glittery jumpsuit.

Afterwards, she posted on Instagram: “I’ve never felt love like it. I’ve never felt joy like it. I’ve never felt such kinship with mortality. I’ve never felt so alive.”

Read more from Sky News:
Women aged 18 to 25 urged to check for breast cancer
Women diagnosed young have higher risk of breast cancer spreading

Ms Hallenga campaigned for cancer education to be included in the school curriculum, won the Women of the Year Outstanding Young Campaigner award, received an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University and wrote a memoir titled Glittering a Turd.

A post on her Instagram page announcing the news to her 146,000 followers was signed off by her cat Lady Marmalade.

It said: “Her final message from her to you would be one that probably involved checking your chest, getting in some cold water, talking more about death and dying, that even the turdiest of turds are glitterable, that you should always see the silly side of life, that she LOVED her life and that giving Neighbours 2.0 is worth another chance.”

Continue Reading

UK

Ipswich Town fans enjoy ‘long-awaited’ open-top bus celebrations after Premier League promotion

Published

on

By

Ipswich Town fans enjoy 'long-awaited' open-top bus celebrations after Premier League promotion

Ipswich Town fans celebrated their “long-awaited” return to the Premier League after they secured promotion over weekend.

On Saturday, Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys clinched their place in the top flight with a 2-0 win over now-relegated Huddersfield Town.

The result meant Ipswich will return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.

Saturday’s victory secured the Suffolk club back-to-back promotions as they became the first team since Southampton in 2011 and 2012 to win successive promotions to the top flight from League One.

On Monday the team rode through Ipswich on an open-top bus, with thousands of fans turning out to celebrate.

Speaking to Sky News, fans described feelings of euphoria amid the celebrations, as others were enjoying a long weekend of non-stop celebrating.

“It’s been a really really long time coming,” one fan said.

More on Football

Ipswich Town players during an open-top bus parade in Ipswich to celebrate promotion to the Premier League.
Image:
Ipswich Town players during an open-top bus parade to celebrate promotion to the Premier League.

Ipswich Town fans during an open-top bus parade. Pic: PA
Image:
Young Ipswich Town fans climbed into trees for the best vantage point of the open-top bus parade. Pic: PA

Ipswich Town's  Massimo Luongo lifts the Sky Bet Championship trophy during an open-top bus parade.
Pic PA
Image:
Ipswich Town’s Massimo Luongo lifts the promotion trophy during an open-top bus parade. Pic PA

Ipswich Town players during an open-top bus parade in Ipswich to celebrate promotion to the Premier League. Picture date: Monday May 6, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Ipswich. Photo credit should read: Chris Radburn/PA Wire...RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
Image:
Pic: PA

Paul Smith (right) and son Arthur are on their second day of celebrating
Image:
Paul Smith (right) and son Arthur are on their second day of celebrating

Paul Smith, who like many was on his second day of celebrating, said: “I’ve been lucky enough to live through an era of seeing the great times at Ipswich, but I dragged him [his son] along for many many years and I’m grateful his generation gets to see some great times as well.

“When you realise the teams we’re going to be playing it’s incredible.”

Paul’s son Arthur said it was “euphoric” seeing his side promoted but admitted to feeling quite “jaded” from the celebrations.

It was also quite an emotional moment for some who shared a bond with the club with family members.

Ipswich Town players during an open-top bus parade in Ipswich.
Pic:PA
Image:
Pic: PA

Ipswich Town fans ahead of an open-top bus parade.
Pic: PA
Image:
Ipswich Town fans turned out in huge numbers to celebrate. Pic: PA

Ipswich Town fans ahead of an open-top bus parade.
Pic PA
Image:
Pic PA

Ipswich Towns' Massimo Luongo lifts the Sky Bet Championship trophy during an open-top bus parade in Ipswich.
Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

Adam Conuel, another fan, described the promotion in one word: “Unbelievable”.

He added: “My grandad passed away last year, we were quite close, he was a supporter all his life too, like my dad.”

He described the celebrations as “emotional” and said “look how many people are here, it’s crazy, I never thought in my lifetime… every conversation I’ve had with my grandpa used to be ‘we were rubbish weren’t we’ and he’s missed the past two years of us being unbelievable so it’s quite emotional to watch us.”

Read more from Sky News:
Heineken investment set to reopen 62 pubs
West Ham agree to bring in ex-Real Madrid boss
Referee to wear camera for Premier League fixture

Ipswich Town fans ahead of an open-top bus parade.
Pic PA
Image:
Pic PA

Adam Conuel, an Ipswich Town fan, described being emotional during the celebrations after his grandad, a lifetime supporter, missed out after passing away shortly before their turnaround
Image:
Adam Conuel, an Ipswich Town fan, described being emotional during the celebrations after his grandad, a lifetime supporter, missed out after passing away shortly before their turnaround

Ipswich Town fans turned out in droves this Bank Holiday. Pic: PA
Image:
An aerial view of the open-top bus during Monday’s celebrations. Pic: PA

Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

Again and again one name surfaced from fans out celebrating – their coach McKenna.

The 37-year-old Northern Irish manager has taken the English football league by storm in recent years, charging up to the Premier League.

A former Manchester United assistant manager, McKenna was praised repeatedly by fans for his handling of the club and his brand of attacking, and successful, football.

When he took charge of Ipswich, they were languishing in League One and now within three years he has catapulted them to the Premier League.

Ipswich fans with flares outside the stadium before the match. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Ipswich fans with flares outside the stadium before their final match on Saturday. Pic: Reuters

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Speaking on board the bus, McKenna told Sky Sports News: “It’s an incredible turnout, amazing seeing so much joy.

“Everyone deserves it, the whole town deserves it, the players … for how hard they’ve worked. And the supporters, who’ve followed so loyally for years and have been waiting for a day like this.

“We just set out to be as good as we could possibly be.

“The closer you get to the end you know you’re within reach of an amazing achievement and we’re so glad we were able to finish off well.”

Continue Reading

UK

Scottish singer drafted in to replace Olly Murs at Glasgow Take That concert thought offer was a ‘joke’

Published

on

By

Scottish singer drafted in to replace Olly Murs at Glasgow Take That concert thought offer was a 'joke'

A Scottish singer plucked from obscurity at the last minute to replace Olly Murs as the opening act for Take That in Glasgow has told Sky News he thought the life-changing opportunity was a “joke”.

Daniel Rooney, 26, was playing at the Radisson Red hotel opposite the OVO Hydro when news broke that Murs was forced to cancel his support act on Friday due to transport issues.

TV presenter Ross King, who was enjoying a family dinner at the hotel, was impressed with Mr Rooney’s vocals and recommended the singer to his friend and Take That frontman Gary Barlow.

With 30 minutes to go before the show was due to start, Mr Rooney was quickly whisked to the arena and opened the festivities with a range of upbeat cover songs.

Barlow later thanked him on Instagram.

(left-right) Howard Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen of Take That during day two of Capital's Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard at London's O2 Arena. Picture date: Sunday December 10, 2023.
Image:
Take That: Howard Donald, Gary Barlow and Mark Owen. Pic: PA

Mr Rooney, from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, told Sky News he thought it was a wind-up at first.

He said: “I was thinking, ‘right, who’s trying to play a wee joke on me here’. But thankfully it wasn’t a joke and Ross King was saying, ‘I’ve got an opportunity of a lifetime here, Danny boy, so are you up for it?’

More on Glasgow

“And I was.”

Mr Rooney started to feel a mixture of emotions on his way to the stage. As well as excitement, he began to feel apprehensive about what he was going to play.

He said: “I was obviously buzzing just to get that news. It was just mental.

“I had a wee discussion with the boys from Take That, who were brilliant and really good with me.

“We just agreed on making it really fun and making the songs nice big singalongs.

“It was just really great. The crowd were brilliant, and they sang to every song and the feedback was magic.”

Mr Rooney paid tribute to Mr King for the opportunity and thanked him for his warm introduction onstage to explain the situation to the crowd.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr King said: “I was listening to [Mr Rooney] while I was having dinner and was very impressed – never thinking that 30 minutes later I’d be saying ‘come with me and support Take That’.

“Gary Barlow is one of my closest pals and I’ve known the band since 1990. When Gary called me and said ‘you’re going to have to go on, Olly is stuck in London’, I thought it was a wind-up. But no.”

Mr King agreed to go on, but then pitched the idea of Mr Rooney.

Mr King added: “Daniel was the coolest guy in the Hydro and played a blinder. I was thrilled to share the stage with him and help out my old mates too.

“I know this has made news all around the world, so I hope Daniel continues to have the success he deserves.”

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Mr Rooney now intends to head into the studio to record some music.

He added: “I’ve got some ideas and demos there, so this is the opportunity to get them out now and just really capitalise on the moment.”

Read more from Sky News:
Anchorman star Will Ferrell invests in Championship club
Madonna plays biggest-ever show on Rio beach

Olly Murs performs during the Coronation Concert held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire, to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Picture date: Sunday May 7, 2023.
Image:
Olly Murs. Pic: PA

Murs apologised for cancelling his performance at short notice after falling foul of flight issues.

The former X Factor star said he had been at Heathrow from 11am ahead of his performance on Friday night, but the flight was cancelled after “several delays” and an accident with a cabin crew member.

He later shared a video of himself being driven to Glasgow for his Saturday and Sunday performances.

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine programme on Monday, Murs paid tribute to Mr Rooney for holding his nerve and being able to perform in front of an arena crowd of thousands with just 30 minutes’ notice.

Murs said: “Fair play to him, that’s amazing. You know what, credit to him.”

Continue Reading

Trending