A health and housing ‘trailblazer’ service will support Wirral residents in need to pay their bills and improve their wellbeing in the process.
The scheme, funded by Wirral Council’s Public Health team, aims to reduce the health impacts of fuel poverty and extreme temperatures in homes via a new fuel poverty service.
Cllr Paul Stuart, Leader of Wirral Council, said:
The ongoing rise in energy prices and the continued cost of living crisis have led to a sustained increase in households struggling to afford heat and electricity.
Fuel poverty, which means being unable to heat your home to a safe and comfortable standard, can have a profound impact on health, particularly affecting elderly people, young children, and those with pre-existing conditions.
The new service will be delivered by Energy Projects Plus. During a one-year pilot, Energy Projects Plus will:
- Provide advice and support to households living in fuel poverty
- Work with health services to target potentially vulnerable households with details of support available
- Deliver energy efficiency advice sessions in community venues
- Deliver talks to community groups around the health impacts of fuel poverty
- Provide and install small and medium energy measures (ranging from DIY draughtproofing to heating system repairs) to at least 100 homes
The service is projected to achieve more than £200,000 per annum in fuel bill savings for residents.
Peter Owen, Chief Executive at Energy Projects Plus, said:
Empowering members of the community to be more energy efficient is at the heart of what we do at our charity. We’re thrilled to be taking part in this trailblazer project and delivering our new service, to help residents reduce bills and keep warm – especially during the colder months.
Alongside the fuel poverty service, further investment in local services to support residents experiencing fuel poverty includes:
- The recommissioning of the Ask Us Wirral information and advice service who will continue to support residents with income maximisation and debt advice
- Extra resource dedicated to the Healthy Homes team with a focus on damp and mould specifically – in the form of three full time employees
- Extra resource dedicated to the temporary homelessness team to ensure families and individuals find and secure suitable accommodation – in the form of two full time employees
- Establishment of the Community Voluntary and Faith (CVF) winter preparedness group to collectively support residents and communities through the colder months.
The programme was devised following a research project undertaken by Wirral Council’s Public Health team where residents welcomed qualitative researchers into their homes and shared their experiences of how fuel poverty was affecting their lives, health and housing conditions.
Cllr Stuart said:
I want to thank our residents who have worked with our Public Health team, helping us better understand fuel poverty and its effects on people in our borough. This research has been key in shaping our new fuel poverty service, delivered by Energy Projects Plus.
This programme will ensure that Wirral residents experiencing fuel poverty can properly heat their homes, protecting their health and wellbeing and that of their families.
Do you need support with fuel bills?
Residents can self-refer and call Energy Projects Plus direct on 0800 043 0151 or they can request a call – Contact Form (jotform.com)
Residents can also be referred via other agencies: Referring Clients to Energy Projects Plus | Energy Projects Plus (epplus.org.uk)
Did you know that your family, friend, neighbour or loved one could be eligible for an average £3,900 extra a year through Pension Credit? Find out more, and apply, here: Pension Credit: Overview – GOV.UK.
You can read more about the ethnographic research project that informed this programme in a blog on the LGA’s website: Wirral Council: using ethnographic research and partnership working to tackle fuel poverty | Local Government Association.