STORY: Green Doctor on the Ground – Rupal
Meet Rupal from Leicestershire, who has been part of the Groundwork Five Counties Green Doctor team since last summer. In that time she has worked with many people who are struggling to afford their energy bills – and has made a positive difference when they needed it most.
Before taking on the Green Doctor role, Rupal worked as a local BBC radio presenter and as a Housing Association Engagement Officer. She was looking for a new employment opportunity when a conversation arose with a Groundwork Delivery Manager about a Green Doctor job.
Rupal thought it sounded like a perfect fit – as she loves working with people and helping them to overcome difficulties. Knowing she can make a difference to someone struggling, through Green Doctor interventions, makes her job worthwhile.
Knowing Rupal can make a difference to someone struggling, through Green Doctor interventions, makes her job worthwhile.
Rupal said:
“People are struggling financially, some unaware of how to use products that could save them money, or how to use them more efficiently. To be able to go into someone’s home and empower them to make informed choices and help save money is so important. We also signpost them to other agencies, so often we can support them in other ways too.
“The most challenging aspect of being a Green Doctor is not being able to help someone because they are scared, anxious about who we are and why we want to help them. Not being able to always support someone who needs more than one or two visits is also tough. Sometimes you have to accept that you can’t solve all the problems someone has but being able to signpost to other organisations who are better equipped helps.
“Not long after I started, I went with a colleague on a visit, and the lady couldn’t speak English. I was able to support with translations so we helped this lady after the death of her husband: to change bills to her name, get her some food from a local food hub, and signpost her to other organisations that could support her and her children both financially but emotionally too. She didn’t know the first thing about what to do with her energy bills or changing tariffs, or how to go about changing the bills into her name. We were able to support. The next time we saw her, she was so happy to see us and thanked us for all our help at a time she needed someone the most.
“If you like working with people, like making a difference, then from my perspective, this is the job for you!”