AS part of the World War I Centenary commemorations, I was honoured to visit the battle fields in Flanders and commemorate those who had sacrificed so much during the Great War. Laying a wreath at Menin Gate was an extremely emotional experience and a stark reminder of the hundreds of lives that were lost. As remembrance day approaches, it is important that we pay tribute to those who have fought, and those continuing to fight across the globe for our freedom.

On a different topic, I am sure many of you have experienced the challenges involved with selecting an energy tariff or switching suppliers. This is no easy task regardless of whether you have a standard, pre-payment or smart meter installed at your property. With extensive and conflicting information available it is extremely difficult to make an informed decision and impossible to recommend one particular tariff that is universally applicable. However, there are some useful tips available for saving money when it comes to energy and these include; taking active steps to use more eco-friendly systems and by reducing the overall household usage, paying by direct debit, taking advantage of dual fuel (gas and electricity) discounts where the company supplies both together, opting for paperless billing, switching energy supplier to one offering discounts/deals for new customers and signing up for fixed-terms plans (please not that early exit fees usually apply).

There are a variety of comparison websites available which may be helpful in comparing different energy tariffs based on your specific requirements. Similarly, Welsh Government schemes such as ‘NEST’ also offer practical advice to help reduce the number of households in fuel poverty and make Welsh homes warmer and more energy-efficient places to live.

Did you know that the Heritage and Big Lottery Fund have awarded millions of pounds in grants to different community groups across Newport? Applications can be made to the HLF if you believe that your project will make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities. Similarly, the Big Lottery Fund supports the aspirations of people who want to make life better for their communities. Newport has benefitted greatly from these generous awards, and I encourage you to submit an application if you think that your project fulfills the criteria.

If you would like further information or would like to apply for funding, please visit the following links; http://www.hlf.org.uk/wales and http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/about-big

Keep up to date with my activities by visiting www.rosemarybutleram.co.uk or following me on Twitter @RosemaryButler.