Talk Money Week: making money easier to talk about
10th November 2026
Money can be one of the hardest things to talk about. When the Money and Pensions Service asked people why they find it difficult, embarrassment, fear of judgement and a sense of failure were among the reasons they gave. So bills and letters get put to one side until they feel too big to face.
That is why we got behind Talk Money Week (2 to 6 November), the Money and Pensions Service's yearly campaign to get people talking openly about money. This year's theme, It All Counts, is about small, realistic steps: checking whether you're entitled to support you haven't claimed, looking at how to bring an energy bill down, or sharing a money worry with someone you trust.
Those small steps matter this winter. The government estimates that 2.36 million households in England were in fuel poverty in 2025, and Policy in Practice estimates that £24.1 billion in benefits and support will go unclaimed across Great Britain in 2025/26. Behind each figure are people who didn't know help was there, or didn't feel able to ask.
Here is how our teams in Bristol and Harlow are making those conversations a little easier for the people who live in our homes.
A chat about energy bills in Bristol
On 22 October, Sam, our Community Engagement Officer, invited Bristol Energy Network (BEN) to run an energy helpdesk for our Bristol residents. BEN has worked alongside communities across the city for over 10 years, helping people bring their bills down and keep their homes warm.
Around 10 residents sat down with the BEN team for one-to-one conversations about their energy bills. They went home with practical guides on draught-proofing and on joining the Priority Services Register, the free scheme through which energy and water suppliers give extra help to customers who need it.
BEN could see a real need for this kind of support, so Sam is now arranging regular sessions, possibly alongside the local foodbank.
Help with benefits in Harlow
At Templefields House in Harlow, residents can sit down with Zara, our Benefits Officer, whenever money feels like too much to handle alone. It often begins with a letter that doesn't quite make sense. Zara goes through it with them, checks what support they're entitled to, such as Universal Credit, Council Tax Support, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance, and helps them apply.
When someone needs more, she introduces them to Citizens Advice Harlow for free, independent advice on debt and budgeting, and to Harlow Council's hardship schemes. She helps residents apply for grants towards food, energy bills and essentials for the home, and keeps in touch until things are sorted, so nobody is left to deal with it on their own.
When it comes to money, it all counts
Talk Money Week is a reminder that the first step is often the hardest: saying a worry out loud. Asking about a bill or checking an entitlement both count, and each one makes the next step a little easier. Our teams will keep having those conversations with residents in Bristol, Harlow and across our communities all year round.
Thank you to the Bristol Energy Network team for joining us.