“Being on a meter has made me very aware of how much money is spent on energy. We make a conscious effort to use the bare minimum and check the meter every morning and night so we are constantly aware of what we are using. I dread the winter.”
“I feel guilty every time it is cold and the children have to sit with blankets around them because I am too worried to put the heating on.”
These are just a couple of the stories we’ve heard as part of our No Cold Homes campaign. As a charity fighting UK poverty, we know that millions of people are struggling to pay their energy bills and keep their homes warm - often going without food and other essentials.
As part of our campaign, we found that almost two-thirds (64%) of low income households in Wales are struggling with their energy costs, despite being in work. A huge 85% feel they will have to cut back on, or not use their heating this winter, whilst over two-fifths (42%) said they would resort to cutting back on food. Two-fifths (40%) anticipate that their energy bills will cause further stress and worry over the coming months.
It’s clear that more needs to be urgently done to tackle these serious problems and one way to help is by raising awareness. More than half (56%) of those households struggling in Wales have done so for more than a year, yet only 16% have told their energy supplier about their situation, and only 4% have turned to an advice organisation for help.
Through our campaign, we want to make sure that the help available gets to where it’s needed. We’ve been working in partnership with other charities and organisations to spread the word amongst their networks. Alongside working households, we know many other groups will suffer this winter too, and we want to reach as many people as we can.
Anyone who is worried about their energy costs this winter can use our free Benefits Calculator to check if they are entitled to any welfare benefits and tax credits, our Grants Search to see if they could be eligible for support from over 3,000 charitable funds, and find information on further sources of help including charitable trusts from energy companies, the Warm Home Discount and the Winter Fuel Payment.
We hope that our campaign will help to create more noise around fuel poverty issues and the help available, so that more people can find support that could make all the difference this winter and beyond.
For more information, please visit www.turn2us.org.uk/NoColdHomes.
Simon Hopkins
Chief Executive of Turn2us
Showing posts with label fuel poverty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fuel poverty. Show all posts
Monday, 14 December 2015
Thursday, 26 November 2015
Little by Little - Small Changes lead to Better Living
Welsh Government's Warm Homes Wales project has funded 5 Local Authorities (RCT, Torfaen, Cardiff, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr) to take a joined up approach in order to support its households to take action to save energy alongside the installation of energy efficiency measures. The South Wales based energy behaviour change project, Little by Little, has been supporting households across the local authority areas, targeting over 1400 households who have previously received energy saving measures under the Welsh Government's Warm Homes Wales.
The project's key aims are to educate and empower householders to use their energy more efficiently through looking at the whole household's approach towards energy, whilst providing support to improve the quality of life of all those they engage with.
Advisors carry out a home health check with each household, along with energy saving advice that provides information on how to switch providers and the savings that could be made.
Using its partners, the project signposts those who require onto training, education and employment opportunities, digital inclusion advice, along with debt support and other house management opportunities.
As well as providing adults with an OCN level one in Understanding Home Energy via its training sessions, the project is also working with schools encouraging children to become Junior Green Energy Champions via its fun workshops. The project will also be carrying out local energy fairs where energy providers, partners and other community groups can engage with the community to help reduce those affected by fuel poverty.
The project is being run on behalf of the five local authorities by Melin Homes. Allison Cawley, Project Manager said: “This really is a fantastic programme that is helping those in the community who are on the verge of or already in fuel poverty to make some big savings as well as supporting them with their employment, training, digital and financial requirements.”
For more information or to discuss the project, please contact: Allison on 01495 745947, 07791 657386 or allison.cawley@melinhomes.co.uk.
The project's key aims are to educate and empower householders to use their energy more efficiently through looking at the whole household's approach towards energy, whilst providing support to improve the quality of life of all those they engage with.
Advisors carry out a home health check with each household, along with energy saving advice that provides information on how to switch providers and the savings that could be made.
Using its partners, the project signposts those who require onto training, education and employment opportunities, digital inclusion advice, along with debt support and other house management opportunities.
As well as providing adults with an OCN level one in Understanding Home Energy via its training sessions, the project is also working with schools encouraging children to become Junior Green Energy Champions via its fun workshops. The project will also be carrying out local energy fairs where energy providers, partners and other community groups can engage with the community to help reduce those affected by fuel poverty.
The project is being run on behalf of the five local authorities by Melin Homes. Allison Cawley, Project Manager said: “This really is a fantastic programme that is helping those in the community who are on the verge of or already in fuel poverty to make some big savings as well as supporting them with their employment, training, digital and financial requirements.”
For more information or to discuss the project, please contact: Allison on 01495 745947, 07791 657386 or allison.cawley@melinhomes.co.uk.
Allison Cawley
Project Manager, Little by Little
Project Manager, Little by Little
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Local energy production and local energy supply
According to the Wales Fuel Poverty Projection Tool released in 2013, 31% of social housing tenants in Wales still lived in fuel poverty in 2012. This equates to 70,000 households, which is a rise of 6% from 2008 indicators. Tenants living in housing association properties have been affected significantly by rising fuel bills, benefit changes and the ‘bedroom tax’. High energy prices in Wales are compounded by the energy inefficiency of Welsh housing and lack of access to mains gas in rural areas. Furthermore, many social housing tenants in Wales are using prepayment meters to pay for their gas and electricity bills, which can mean that they end up paying more for their energy needs.
Taking these factors into account, along with the recent changes outlined in the UK Government’s summer budget, any opportunity which offers the potential of increasing household budgets as well as raising income for HAs, needs to be explored. Exploring the potential for local energy production and local energy supply is one of those opportunities.
CHC is holding a ‘Local energy production and local energy supply’ event in Cardiff on September 30th to explore these opportunities. Many organisations feel that we need to address the market failure impacting on low income households and we need to impact fuel poverty directly through price. There is a significant and growing appetite to intervene directly in the energy market, as outlined in a “Non-traditional business models: Supporting transformative change in the energy market” event recently run by Ofgem and Welsh Government. Feedback from this event will be provided at CHC’s event.
Examples of non-traditional business models include community energy projects which share an emphasis on community ownership, leadership or control where the community benefits, as well as ‘Energy Service Companies business models’, which include financing, designing, building, operating and maintaining small-to-medium scale demand management and/or low carbon energy projects, as part of either energy service contracts or energy performance contracts.
Following updates from Ofgem and Welsh Government, ‘Our Power’ will provide an update on their activity at the event. ‘Our Power’ is a new independent energy supply company and the first in the UK to operate on a non-profit distributing basis. It plans to sell heat and power to tenants in 200,000 homes across Scotland by 2020. This agenda item will be the longest session on the day, providing an opportunity to hear about Our Power’s journey so far and any potential for collaboration with the sector in Wales.
Before concluding the event with a ‘next steps’ discussion, a range of organisations will get an opportunity to outline their services and project work in relation to local energy production. Part of this includes local energy production through renewable energy systems. People in Wales have amongst the second highest electricity bills in Great Britain, which is largely due to Wales’ energy infrastructure and higher distribution costs faced by consumers in Wales.
A fair deal on distribution costs is needed for Welsh consumers. Part of this deal is the need to improve the capacity and infrastructure of the national grid with regards to installing renewable energy systems amongst other benefits. There is great potential for renewable energy in Wales and, alongside this, we need to consider the potential for energy storage, smart grids and other technological advances. Such projects can have significant social, environmental and economic benefits for housing associations, tenants and communities.
To book your place on CHC’s event on 30th September, please click here.
Shea Jones
Energy and Sustainability Officer
Taking these factors into account, along with the recent changes outlined in the UK Government’s summer budget, any opportunity which offers the potential of increasing household budgets as well as raising income for HAs, needs to be explored. Exploring the potential for local energy production and local energy supply is one of those opportunities.
CHC is holding a ‘Local energy production and local energy supply’ event in Cardiff on September 30th to explore these opportunities. Many organisations feel that we need to address the market failure impacting on low income households and we need to impact fuel poverty directly through price. There is a significant and growing appetite to intervene directly in the energy market, as outlined in a “Non-traditional business models: Supporting transformative change in the energy market” event recently run by Ofgem and Welsh Government. Feedback from this event will be provided at CHC’s event.
Examples of non-traditional business models include community energy projects which share an emphasis on community ownership, leadership or control where the community benefits, as well as ‘Energy Service Companies business models’, which include financing, designing, building, operating and maintaining small-to-medium scale demand management and/or low carbon energy projects, as part of either energy service contracts or energy performance contracts.
Following updates from Ofgem and Welsh Government, ‘Our Power’ will provide an update on their activity at the event. ‘Our Power’ is a new independent energy supply company and the first in the UK to operate on a non-profit distributing basis. It plans to sell heat and power to tenants in 200,000 homes across Scotland by 2020. This agenda item will be the longest session on the day, providing an opportunity to hear about Our Power’s journey so far and any potential for collaboration with the sector in Wales.
Before concluding the event with a ‘next steps’ discussion, a range of organisations will get an opportunity to outline their services and project work in relation to local energy production. Part of this includes local energy production through renewable energy systems. People in Wales have amongst the second highest electricity bills in Great Britain, which is largely due to Wales’ energy infrastructure and higher distribution costs faced by consumers in Wales.
A fair deal on distribution costs is needed for Welsh consumers. Part of this deal is the need to improve the capacity and infrastructure of the national grid with regards to installing renewable energy systems amongst other benefits. There is great potential for renewable energy in Wales and, alongside this, we need to consider the potential for energy storage, smart grids and other technological advances. Such projects can have significant social, environmental and economic benefits for housing associations, tenants and communities.
To book your place on CHC’s event on 30th September, please click here.
Shea Jones
Energy and Sustainability Officer
Friday, 13 March 2015
Legislation a chance to tackle fuel poverty
Shea Jones has blogged for IWA on the Well Being of Future Generations Bill...
Fuel poverty (defined as households spending 10% or more of their income on energy costs) affected 30% of households in Wales in 2012 and is now likely to be significantly higher. Fuel poverty is a significant cause of excess winter deaths and in 2013/14, there were 1,100 excess winter deaths in Wales. The majority (73%) were over the age of 75 (we know that around 30% of these deaths can be attributed to cold homes). Low incomes, energy prices and the number of energy inefficient properties act as the main contributory factors to rising levels of fuel poor households and they make the eradication of fuel poverty a real challenge.
Despite much welcomed investment from energy efficiency programs such as Arbed, the current investment in Wales is insufficient given the scale of the problem. Estimates in a Bevan report on poverty states that it will take 78 years for the Welsh Government’s Nest programme to reach each and every home suffering from fuel poverty in Wales. More needs to be done to ensure that vulnerable households are paying the lowest possible price for their home energy needs.
Housing is responsible for around one fifth of Welsh greenhouse gas emissions. WWF Cymru’s report, ‘Cutting carbon emissions in Welsh homes’, showed that targeting home improvements at the poorest quality houses in Wales would slash energy bills, cut fuel poverty by 40%, reduce our impact on climate change and create thousands of jobs. This would take us well on our way to meeting our climate emission reduction targets of 40% by 2020. Reducing our energy usage and delivering energy efficiency programmes needs to happen alongside switching to renewable / low carbon energy sources, as outlined in WWF’s report ‘Warm Homes Not Warm Words’, although barriers to renewable energy (e.g. the planning system) need to be addressed and Wales needs further energy powers to be devolved for energy planning consents.
A large scale energy efficiency programme much bigger than what we currently have is essentially sustainable development in action. How could this be financed? There have been suggestions of using borrowing powers for energy efficiency programmes rather than funding controversial stretches of motorways, for example. Perhaps a less controversial way to boost investment would be to fund more energy efficiency retrofit works, as well as the amount of energy that we generate through renewable technologies via infrastructure investments through the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan (WIIP). Of course, we need to maximise the positive impacts of investment and the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations Bill, if designed effectively, provides an ideal opportunity to achieve this. Infrastructure investments should be benchmarked for their environmental impact and WIIP provides a significant opportunity to ensure that large capital projects fulfil sustainable development criteria at every level from carbon impact to community benefit.
A strong and effective Well-being of FG Act should make sure that investment from public bodies has real positive impacts and ensures that all purchasing decisions are made with consideration of wider benefits for people and nature, in Wales and around the world. ARBED has shown how a programme can be designed to deliver real benefits to local economies. Evidence suggests that, without an explicit legal requirement, it is unlikely that good-practice procurement policy will be implemented and inconsistencies will continue. Community Housing Cymru’s member organisations (housing associations) spent an estimated £1,027m in 2013/14, and £823.6m (80%) of this spend was retained in Wales. Of the completed Community Benefits Measurement Tools returned to Welsh Government, 52% have come from the housing sector.
However, we propose that further work is done to develop the community benefits tool into a legal requirement that ensures public bodies consider the broader environmental, social and economic impact of their procurement activities. We should promote ethical, fair trade and sustainable procurement practices through the Bill which meet the social justice and equality needs of the citizens of Wales. This includes the impacts of supply chains in Wales and abroad and the ability to use local suppliers and installers, which is key to keeping money in the Welsh economy. For example, i2i’s Can Do Toolkit provides guidance to social landlords to help them achieve added value and wider social inclusion through their improvement and investment programmes, in the areas of targeted recruitment and training and SME-friendly procurement. Between September 2008 and December 2011, i2i calculated that this work led to the creation of 2,581 job and training opportunities. The CHC Group supports the continued development of the Can Do Toolkit and its extended application across the public sector in Wales.
Prevention and integration principles clearly need to be at the heart of the Wellbeing of FG Bill. For example, ‘Boiler prescription’ schemes exist in England whereby housing associations install boilers in households prescribed by GPs. One of these schemes has resulted in savings to the NHS with a 28% reduction in GP appointments and a 33% reduction in outpatient appointments. It is one of the first examples of the NHS supporting retrofit schemes in order to reduce the cost of health and social services but such schemes need to be valued more by the government and the health sector. CHC is working closely with organisations in Wales to develop similar approaches. Other schemes such as the ‘Warm homes healthy people fund’ show a clear example of the Department of Energy and Climate Change working with the Department of Health in the UK Government.
Legislation is needed to drive change at the necessary scale and pace. It should also be viewed as an opportunity to help create the future we want to see for Wales. With amendments to the Well-Being of Future Generations Bill, we can make it stronger together and transform the way we do things in Wales.
Shea Jones
Energy and Sustainability Officer
Energy and Sustainability Officer
You can read Shea's original blog post here.
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Winter is coming...
Jon Snow knew much of the perils that lurked in the coming winter. With his battle-hardened peers in the Night’s Watch, he could see from the wall, and through forays beyond, the danger that made its home in the cold and ice. But, apart from a bad case of frostbite, what did Jon Snow and those around him suffer as a result of? Well, a lack of shared ownership of the problem, poor collaboration and, as the issues intensified, a failure to use dwindling resources in a different, more efficient way.
You wouldn’t find many of us looking pensively into the distance, muttering 'winter is coming' during August. But, let’s face it, he had the right idea. We should have a joint sense of urgency, readiness and understanding of the challenges unique to this time of year.
Outside the world of 'Game of Thrones', the statistics around fuel poverty and winter deaths are sobering. In 2012, 30% of households in Wales (386,000 households) were estimated to be in fuel poverty. This is the equivalent to 54,000 more households than in 2008. Rising fuel prices have largely been counteracted by the increases in income and energy efficiency savings in the housing stock, and this has led to the increase in the number of fuel poor households.
Fuel poverty is a significant cause of excess winter deaths and, in 2012/13, there were 1,900 excess winter deaths in Wales. This was a 32% fall from the previous winter, which had seen the highest number since 1999/2000, but still above the 10 year average. 89% of these deaths involved people aged 65 or over, with the highest rate amongst those over 85 who constituted nearly 60% of the total.
There is much being done in an attempt to reduce these figures. For example, Care & Repair Cymru works with older people across Wales to support them to live in warm, safe and secure homes. This work is continued throughout the year; however, it is particularly pertinent heading toward the winter months. This year, Care & Repair agencies are offering free winter warm packs, containing a blanket and hot water bottle. These packs help to promote Care & Repair agencies as a service to help older people prepare for and manage safely through the winter.
Housing associations are doing much to offset the impact of fuel poverty, including:
Across public services, the impacts of winter are likely to be felt more profoundly in the Welsh NHS. Winter preparedness is a key task for Health Boards, and a hot topic within the media and public sphere. But it’s important, particularly now in the context of prudent healthcare, that we all take responsibility as individuals and organisations to meeting the winter challenge.
In terms of working with housing associations:
Of course, this should all rightly go beyond what we plan as organisations and a mix of services. Last year, Public Health England called for 100,000 people to check on neighbours over the winter months.
We should be using this time to reignite our sense of community, decrease loneliness and isolation during months when these may be felt more profoundly and together contribute to managing the demand on GP or A&E service during these months. Everyone can help, from championing local services, clearing roads, communal snowman building, committing your long term future to the Night’s Watch – it’s the small gestures that will truly make a difference this Christmas. It could put a smile on someone’s face, it could save a life.
You wouldn’t find many of us looking pensively into the distance, muttering 'winter is coming' during August. But, let’s face it, he had the right idea. We should have a joint sense of urgency, readiness and understanding of the challenges unique to this time of year.
Outside the world of 'Game of Thrones', the statistics around fuel poverty and winter deaths are sobering. In 2012, 30% of households in Wales (386,000 households) were estimated to be in fuel poverty. This is the equivalent to 54,000 more households than in 2008. Rising fuel prices have largely been counteracted by the increases in income and energy efficiency savings in the housing stock, and this has led to the increase in the number of fuel poor households.
Fuel poverty is a significant cause of excess winter deaths and, in 2012/13, there were 1,900 excess winter deaths in Wales. This was a 32% fall from the previous winter, which had seen the highest number since 1999/2000, but still above the 10 year average. 89% of these deaths involved people aged 65 or over, with the highest rate amongst those over 85 who constituted nearly 60% of the total.
There is much being done in an attempt to reduce these figures. For example, Care & Repair Cymru works with older people across Wales to support them to live in warm, safe and secure homes. This work is continued throughout the year; however, it is particularly pertinent heading toward the winter months. This year, Care & Repair agencies are offering free winter warm packs, containing a blanket and hot water bottle. These packs help to promote Care & Repair agencies as a service to help older people prepare for and manage safely through the winter.
Housing associations are doing much to offset the impact of fuel poverty, including:
- Improving the energy efficiency of homes through the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and energy programmes such as Arbed
- Helping tenants maximise their income through projects such as the Your Benefits are Changing (YBAC) campaign. YBAC helps tenants to claim benefits they are entitled to. One area of success has been the identification of the Warm Home Discount - YBAC last year successfully assisted over 914 people to claim a rebate which equates to an annual sum of £127,960.
- Helping to try to negate energy price increases through such actions as behavioural change for energy use.
Across public services, the impacts of winter are likely to be felt more profoundly in the Welsh NHS. Winter preparedness is a key task for Health Boards, and a hot topic within the media and public sphere. But it’s important, particularly now in the context of prudent healthcare, that we all take responsibility as individuals and organisations to meeting the winter challenge.
In terms of working with housing associations:
- Creating capacity for step down accommodation in Extra Care and Sheltered Housing
- Placing housing professionals within hospital discharge teams to decrease delayed transfer of care
- Working with housing associations to facilitate and coordinate community activity during the winter months
- Partnering to ensure that advice and information is accessible in a range of community settings and media formats.
Of course, this should all rightly go beyond what we plan as organisations and a mix of services. Last year, Public Health England called for 100,000 people to check on neighbours over the winter months.
We should be using this time to reignite our sense of community, decrease loneliness and isolation during months when these may be felt more profoundly and together contribute to managing the demand on GP or A&E service during these months. Everyone can help, from championing local services, clearing roads, communal snowman building, committing your long term future to the Night’s Watch – it’s the small gestures that will truly make a difference this Christmas. It could put a smile on someone’s face, it could save a life.
Matthew Kennedy
Policy Officer: Care, Support and Health
Policy Officer: Care, Support and Health
Friday, 24 October 2014
The scandal of pensioner winter deaths
Why is society in Wales so prepared to put up with more older people dying in the winter compared to other months of the year?
In 2012/13, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales confirmed that this is the case with 1,900 more deaths in the winter months, with 70% of these attributed to our over 75 year olds. This pattern is repeated year on year.
Why? Because as we age, we become frailer, our bodies are less able to cope with low temperatures and we become more susceptible to respiratory and circulatory illness.
This is backed up by accepted figures in Wales that 140,000 pensioners are in fuel poverty, meaning they need to spend more than 10% of their income on fuel costs.
“Just turn the heating on”, I hear you say. It’s not as simple as that. With rising energy costs and many older people on a fixed income, many cannot afford to pay their fuel bills... so they don’t turn on the heating. Many older people face many difficult decisions, like choosing between eating or heating their home.
Many thousands of older people can’t survive on their state pension or are not claiming the benefits they are entitled to. They have boilers which are old, inefficient and use more fuel. They live in properties which aren’t insulated. They are on an expensive fuel tariff and don’t know how to change provider. They don’t know about the latest government grant scheme that just might be able to help them.
This isn’t good enough. It is clear that the system isn’t working because we still have older people dying in the winter who wouldn’t be dying in other months of the year.
While there are undoubtedly plenty of schemes that could help, there is confusion for older people about where to go and what help they can get, and we are not doing enough to find and help the people who need that help the most.
There have been numerous grant schemes, over many years, such as Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), and now, the NEST and Energy Company Obligation (ECO). There is lots of evidence to suggest that these schemes have helped improve many properties, helped many people on low incomes and reduced carbon emissions, particularly in the social housing sector. Housing associations and local authorities have undoubtedly carried out some great work with energy companies for the benefit of their properties and their tenants.
We now need to focus on the people we haven’t reached. One particularly affected group is low income, older owner occupiers dispersed in urban, suburban and rural areas across all of Wales. Finding these people requires more up front effort and is not as attractive to energy companies who have legal targets on the quantity of carbon emissions they need to reduce, so instead have targeted geographic energy efficiency schemes at scale.
So, to combat older people dying of cold this winter, Care & Repair Cymru is running their Fighting Fuel Poverty campaign this week (October 20-24) to find older people who are most at risk and to provide them with practical advice.
We aim to help them access benefits and available grants to keep them warm, as well as assisting them directly with our “Health through Warmth” grants, delivered in partnership with Npower.
We’re also asking people who receive the winter fuel payment, but don’t need it, to donate it to a hardship fund at Care & Repair by calling 0300 111 3333 so that we can redirect this to older people in fuel poverty who need more help.
As we head into the winter months and look ahead to the UK elections next year, we believe that the UK and Welsh Governments need a rebalancing of policy focus so that tackling fuel poverty and stopping winter deaths amongst our older people receives as much attention as reducing CO2 emissions.
We need co-ordinated action by government and energy companies to target advice and energy efficiency grants based on specific need of individuals as well as wider need to reduce the carbon footprint.
As the Older People’s Housing Champion for Wales, our “Fighting Fuel Poverty” campaign aims to highlight the scandal of pensioner winter deaths and find solutions to help those in need. We’re only a phone call away, so if you’re an older person or have a relative, neighbour or friend in need of help, please call one of our local agencies on 0300 111 3333. Care & Repair can reach out and spread a bit of human kindness and warmth this winter to those feeling left out in the cold.
Chris Jones
Chief Executive
Care & Repair Cymru
In 2012/13, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales confirmed that this is the case with 1,900 more deaths in the winter months, with 70% of these attributed to our over 75 year olds. This pattern is repeated year on year.
Why? Because as we age, we become frailer, our bodies are less able to cope with low temperatures and we become more susceptible to respiratory and circulatory illness.
This is backed up by accepted figures in Wales that 140,000 pensioners are in fuel poverty, meaning they need to spend more than 10% of their income on fuel costs.
“Just turn the heating on”, I hear you say. It’s not as simple as that. With rising energy costs and many older people on a fixed income, many cannot afford to pay their fuel bills... so they don’t turn on the heating. Many older people face many difficult decisions, like choosing between eating or heating their home.
Many thousands of older people can’t survive on their state pension or are not claiming the benefits they are entitled to. They have boilers which are old, inefficient and use more fuel. They live in properties which aren’t insulated. They are on an expensive fuel tariff and don’t know how to change provider. They don’t know about the latest government grant scheme that just might be able to help them.
This isn’t good enough. It is clear that the system isn’t working because we still have older people dying in the winter who wouldn’t be dying in other months of the year.
While there are undoubtedly plenty of schemes that could help, there is confusion for older people about where to go and what help they can get, and we are not doing enough to find and help the people who need that help the most.
There have been numerous grant schemes, over many years, such as Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP), and now, the NEST and Energy Company Obligation (ECO). There is lots of evidence to suggest that these schemes have helped improve many properties, helped many people on low incomes and reduced carbon emissions, particularly in the social housing sector. Housing associations and local authorities have undoubtedly carried out some great work with energy companies for the benefit of their properties and their tenants.
We now need to focus on the people we haven’t reached. One particularly affected group is low income, older owner occupiers dispersed in urban, suburban and rural areas across all of Wales. Finding these people requires more up front effort and is not as attractive to energy companies who have legal targets on the quantity of carbon emissions they need to reduce, so instead have targeted geographic energy efficiency schemes at scale.
So, to combat older people dying of cold this winter, Care & Repair Cymru is running their Fighting Fuel Poverty campaign this week (October 20-24) to find older people who are most at risk and to provide them with practical advice.
We aim to help them access benefits and available grants to keep them warm, as well as assisting them directly with our “Health through Warmth” grants, delivered in partnership with Npower.
We’re also asking people who receive the winter fuel payment, but don’t need it, to donate it to a hardship fund at Care & Repair by calling 0300 111 3333 so that we can redirect this to older people in fuel poverty who need more help.
As we head into the winter months and look ahead to the UK elections next year, we believe that the UK and Welsh Governments need a rebalancing of policy focus so that tackling fuel poverty and stopping winter deaths amongst our older people receives as much attention as reducing CO2 emissions.
We need co-ordinated action by government and energy companies to target advice and energy efficiency grants based on specific need of individuals as well as wider need to reduce the carbon footprint.
As the Older People’s Housing Champion for Wales, our “Fighting Fuel Poverty” campaign aims to highlight the scandal of pensioner winter deaths and find solutions to help those in need. We’re only a phone call away, so if you’re an older person or have a relative, neighbour or friend in need of help, please call one of our local agencies on 0300 111 3333. Care & Repair can reach out and spread a bit of human kindness and warmth this winter to those feeling left out in the cold.
Chris Jones
Chief Executive
Care & Repair Cymru
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Working in partnership for warmer homes
With Autumn now firmly taking hold, people across the country are starting to turn the heating on. However, it’s easy to forget that not everyone has the luxury of keeping their home warm.
A warm home has a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. As research has shown, cold temperatures can have a detrimental effect on people with long-term health conditions such as heart, circulatory and respiratory disorders, as well as the elderly community.
Indeed, this subject has become a real focus for the Government in recent months, with calls for a collaborative approach across the health sector to ensure that those who need it most are able to heat their homes. Recent guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has also added to the debate, calling for the wider community, from gas engineers to health workers, to work together to identify vulnerable people who are at risk.
This partnership approach is one that npower Health Through Warmth has championed since the scheme began in 2000, by working with organisations such as Care & Repair Cymru. Together, we help vulnerable people to stay warm at home, whether it’s by replacing broken boilers or installing heating systems or loft and cavity wall insulation.
That’s why npower Health Through Warmth is supporting Care & Repair Cymru's Fighting Fuel Poverty campaign, to remind people that help may be available for vulnerable home owners who have a long term illness, a low income with little or no savings and who are unable to fully fund the work required.
For more information, or to find out if you or someone you know could be eligible for help, visit www.healththroughwarmth.com or contact your local Care & Repair Agency on 0300 111 3333.
Elaine Midwinter
Scheme Manager
npower Health Through Warmth
A warm home has a significant impact on our health and wellbeing. As research has shown, cold temperatures can have a detrimental effect on people with long-term health conditions such as heart, circulatory and respiratory disorders, as well as the elderly community.
Indeed, this subject has become a real focus for the Government in recent months, with calls for a collaborative approach across the health sector to ensure that those who need it most are able to heat their homes. Recent guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has also added to the debate, calling for the wider community, from gas engineers to health workers, to work together to identify vulnerable people who are at risk.
This partnership approach is one that npower Health Through Warmth has championed since the scheme began in 2000, by working with organisations such as Care & Repair Cymru. Together, we help vulnerable people to stay warm at home, whether it’s by replacing broken boilers or installing heating systems or loft and cavity wall insulation.
That’s why npower Health Through Warmth is supporting Care & Repair Cymru's Fighting Fuel Poverty campaign, to remind people that help may be available for vulnerable home owners who have a long term illness, a low income with little or no savings and who are unable to fully fund the work required.
For more information, or to find out if you or someone you know could be eligible for help, visit www.healththroughwarmth.com or contact your local Care & Repair Agency on 0300 111 3333.
Elaine Midwinter
Scheme Manager
npower Health Through Warmth
Tuesday, 21 October 2014
Fighting fuel poverty - let Care & Repair help you
According to latest figures, there are almost 2,000 excess winter deaths a year in Wales. We hear the term ‘excess winter deaths’ quite frequently, but it’s hard to imagine how and why this can happen.
As an Affordable Warmth Caseworker for Care & Repair Cardiff, visiting older people on a daily basis in their homes, unfortunately I can see how this happens. When reporting on this issue, the press might conjure up images of older people with blankets around their knees, shivering in front of a gas fire. This is not the case for the majority of older people, but for some this is actually their reality.
I saw a lady recently in Riverside who was wearing a dressing gown over her clothes to keep warm every time I visited her. I saw a gentleman in Canton who wore a woolly hat and refused to put the heating on unless it snowed because he was scared of high gas bills. I saw a lady in Grangetown who had no form of heating whatsoever in the house, had never had any, and cried every time I visited as she couldn’t face another winter living that way. Unfortunately, this is how some older people live, and it is easy to see how their health and wellbeing can be affected.
Many older people live on low incomes, have little or no savings and live in homes that don’t suit their needs. Quite often, they live in the family home that they have lived in for decades which they now find that they can’t afford to maintain or heat adequately. There are often problems with the heating system, windows and damp, along with stairs and bathrooms that can’t be managed. Many people are just used to managing and used to be being cold; they’re not aware of the damage it could be doing to their health or where to go for help. Poor physical health and mental health problems can also complicate the issue and make it difficult for people to find and access help, or even to face having anything done to their home.
There is help out there. We can help people to find grants to improve their home and heating and support them through the process of having any work done. We can help people to take control of their bills by looking at changing supplier or making sure they are on the best tariff. We also make sure that people are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to which can vastly increase their income and make life a little easier. We’ve also helped people to clear gas and electricity debts.
I think it will be difficult to find a long term solution to fuel poverty. Grants for new boilers are excellent in the short term, but what happens in 10 years time when that boiler is inefficient again? It’s not a long term solution to the problem. We hear that insulating our homes is the best solution, but most people have had cavity wall and loft insulation fitted and accessing more complicated specialist measures is difficult and very expensive.
One thing I have come to learn in this job is the importance of planning for your old age. Older people should be able to live out their later years in comfort without worrying about living in cold homes which don’t suit their needs. It’s of benefit to everyone of any age to think about maintaining their homes, having appliances regularly serviced and using energy as efficiently as possible. These are all things that Care & Repair can assist with, so I would advise anyone who needs advice to contact us on 0300 111 3333.
Beatrice Roberts
Caseworker, Care & Repair in Cardiff
As an Affordable Warmth Caseworker for Care & Repair Cardiff, visiting older people on a daily basis in their homes, unfortunately I can see how this happens. When reporting on this issue, the press might conjure up images of older people with blankets around their knees, shivering in front of a gas fire. This is not the case for the majority of older people, but for some this is actually their reality.
I saw a lady recently in Riverside who was wearing a dressing gown over her clothes to keep warm every time I visited her. I saw a gentleman in Canton who wore a woolly hat and refused to put the heating on unless it snowed because he was scared of high gas bills. I saw a lady in Grangetown who had no form of heating whatsoever in the house, had never had any, and cried every time I visited as she couldn’t face another winter living that way. Unfortunately, this is how some older people live, and it is easy to see how their health and wellbeing can be affected.
Many older people live on low incomes, have little or no savings and live in homes that don’t suit their needs. Quite often, they live in the family home that they have lived in for decades which they now find that they can’t afford to maintain or heat adequately. There are often problems with the heating system, windows and damp, along with stairs and bathrooms that can’t be managed. Many people are just used to managing and used to be being cold; they’re not aware of the damage it could be doing to their health or where to go for help. Poor physical health and mental health problems can also complicate the issue and make it difficult for people to find and access help, or even to face having anything done to their home.
There is help out there. We can help people to find grants to improve their home and heating and support them through the process of having any work done. We can help people to take control of their bills by looking at changing supplier or making sure they are on the best tariff. We also make sure that people are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to which can vastly increase their income and make life a little easier. We’ve also helped people to clear gas and electricity debts.
I think it will be difficult to find a long term solution to fuel poverty. Grants for new boilers are excellent in the short term, but what happens in 10 years time when that boiler is inefficient again? It’s not a long term solution to the problem. We hear that insulating our homes is the best solution, but most people have had cavity wall and loft insulation fitted and accessing more complicated specialist measures is difficult and very expensive.
One thing I have come to learn in this job is the importance of planning for your old age. Older people should be able to live out their later years in comfort without worrying about living in cold homes which don’t suit their needs. It’s of benefit to everyone of any age to think about maintaining their homes, having appliances regularly serviced and using energy as efficiently as possible. These are all things that Care & Repair can assist with, so I would advise anyone who needs advice to contact us on 0300 111 3333.
Beatrice Roberts
Caseworker, Care & Repair in Cardiff
Monday, 20 October 2014
Fighting Fuel Poverty
The impact of fuel poverty goes beyond financial consequences. Living in fuel poverty can affect people’s health, increasing the risk of common ailments such as colds, flu and respiratory infections including bronchitis. This has resulted in worryingly high excess winter death levels in Wales, with older people particularly susceptible.
There are indirect effects: stress in children and adults, long-term depression and anxiety, social exclusion, damaged health and life chances for families and individuals and reduced educational attainment.
Moreover, there are broader budget implications for education, employment and health services in Wales.
You are in fuel poverty if 10% or more of your household income is spent on energy.
The causes of fuel poverty are equally complex, requiring a person centred approach alongside energy efficiency measures.
In 2012, 30% of households in Wales were living in fuel poverty, equating to 386,000 homes. Nearly 85% of these are vulnerable households, containing a child, older person or someone with a disability or chronic illness.
Energy efficiency is not the only way of helping fuel poor households and further opportunities exist, including helping people to find the best energy deal and to maximise their income.
True partnership working is key to finding those who are hardest to reach, ensuring that they receive all the help they are entitled to and developing solutions to meet their needs and situation.
No one agency can provide all the solutions to a complex problem affecting people with diverse circumstances. However, a central movement such as Care & Repair Cymru can guide people in the right direction to obtain the help they need.
Last year, Care & Repair agencies gave energy advice to 1,800 older people and 1,000 older people who had damp in their home. Amongst other things, they can advise on whether you are eligible for a £140 Warm Home Discount on your electricity bill and how, as a pensioner, you can join your energy supplier’s Priority Services Register.
If you require help or are unsure about the help you can receive, then contact Care & Repair for free advice on 0300 111 3333.
There are indirect effects: stress in children and adults, long-term depression and anxiety, social exclusion, damaged health and life chances for families and individuals and reduced educational attainment.
Moreover, there are broader budget implications for education, employment and health services in Wales.
You are in fuel poverty if 10% or more of your household income is spent on energy.
The causes of fuel poverty are equally complex, requiring a person centred approach alongside energy efficiency measures.
In 2012, 30% of households in Wales were living in fuel poverty, equating to 386,000 homes. Nearly 85% of these are vulnerable households, containing a child, older person or someone with a disability or chronic illness.
Energy efficiency is not the only way of helping fuel poor households and further opportunities exist, including helping people to find the best energy deal and to maximise their income.
True partnership working is key to finding those who are hardest to reach, ensuring that they receive all the help they are entitled to and developing solutions to meet their needs and situation.
No one agency can provide all the solutions to a complex problem affecting people with diverse circumstances. However, a central movement such as Care & Repair Cymru can guide people in the right direction to obtain the help they need.
Last year, Care & Repair agencies gave energy advice to 1,800 older people and 1,000 older people who had damp in their home. Amongst other things, they can advise on whether you are eligible for a £140 Warm Home Discount on your electricity bill and how, as a pensioner, you can join your energy supplier’s Priority Services Register.
If you require help or are unsure about the help you can receive, then contact Care & Repair for free advice on 0300 111 3333.
Mark Isherwood AM
Chair of the Cross
Party Group on Fuel Poverty sponsored by NEA Cymru and Citizens Advice Cymru
Saturday, 22 February 2014
Warmer homes, better health
We may not want to admit it, but as we get older we face an increased risk of health problems. But how many of us recognise how important a warm home is to our health and wellbeing?
Indeed, research has shown that cold temperatures can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and risk of chest infections. Keeping the most used rooms in your home warm could help to prevent your health being adversely affected by the cold. The recommended temperatures are 21°C for the living room and 18°C for the bedroom, but can be higher depending on personal preference, your age and level of mobility.
At npower Health Through Warmth, we work closely with Care & Repair Cymru to help vulnerable older people stay warm at home by, for example, replacing broken boilers or installing heating systems and loft and cavity wall insulation.
That’s why we’re supporting Care and Repair Week and reminding people, both clients and caseworkers, that help from npower Health Through Warmth may be available to vulnerable homeowners who have a long term cold-related illness, a low income with little or no savings and who are unable to fully fund the work required. You do not have to be, or become, an npower customer to benefit from the scheme.
To date, through our work with Care & Repair Cymru, more than 200 older people in Wales have been referred to us for help with heating and insulation. As a result we have levered more than £150,000 to help fund the work required, which includes £130,000 from the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.
For more information, or to find out if you or someone you know could be eligible for help, contact your local Care & Repair Agency on 0300 111 3333.
Elaine Midwinter
Scheme Manager
npower Health Through Warmth
www.healththroughwarmth.com
Indeed, research has shown that cold temperatures can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and risk of chest infections. Keeping the most used rooms in your home warm could help to prevent your health being adversely affected by the cold. The recommended temperatures are 21°C for the living room and 18°C for the bedroom, but can be higher depending on personal preference, your age and level of mobility.
At npower Health Through Warmth, we work closely with Care & Repair Cymru to help vulnerable older people stay warm at home by, for example, replacing broken boilers or installing heating systems and loft and cavity wall insulation.
That’s why we’re supporting Care and Repair Week and reminding people, both clients and caseworkers, that help from npower Health Through Warmth may be available to vulnerable homeowners who have a long term cold-related illness, a low income with little or no savings and who are unable to fully fund the work required. You do not have to be, or become, an npower customer to benefit from the scheme.
To date, through our work with Care & Repair Cymru, more than 200 older people in Wales have been referred to us for help with heating and insulation. As a result we have levered more than £150,000 to help fund the work required, which includes £130,000 from the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.
For more information, or to find out if you or someone you know could be eligible for help, contact your local Care & Repair Agency on 0300 111 3333.
Elaine Midwinter
Scheme Manager
npower Health Through Warmth
www.healththroughwarmth.com
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