Ellie Abernethy has scooped second place at the National Energy Efficiency Awards.

Held in Birmingham, in February 2022, the awards combined the 2020 and 2021 entries which were postponed due to Covid.

A total of 21 individuals were shortlisted for the coveted ‘Energy Efficiency Champion of the Year’ Award. The award recognises a commitment to energy efficiency, and Ellie’s national recognition follows her being named ‘North West Energy Champion’ in September.

Ellie said, “I’m delighted to be awarded second place in the hotly contested National Energy Champion of the Year category. With so many professionals entering from across the sector, it’s great to be recognised for all the hard work the Energy Projects Plus team have continued to put in supporting our vulnerable fuel poor residents in increasingly challenging times”.

Energy Projects Plus is delighted to have been recognised at the recent National Green Deal and ECO Awards 2014.

We were awarded second place in the ‘Fuel Poverty Campaigner of the Year’ category, which recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to raising awareness of fuel poverty and leading the fight against it.

Energy Projects Plus has worked to alleviate fuel poverty across Merseyside and Cheshire for nearly 20 years. During this time we have helped over one hundred thousand people reduce their energy bills and maximise their income through the provision of free and impartial advice, providing support with the installation of energy efficiency measures, switching to cheaper energy tariffs and addressing fuel debt.  

We continue to work with local authorities, housing providers, community groups and other charitable organisations to deliver a collaborative approach in the heart of the community.

Peter Owen, Chief Executive of Energy Projects Plus said “Tackling fuel poverty is not just about fuel bills but goes to the heart of health and wellbeing. We are proud to have our work recognised nationally and will use this as a spur to further action, leading on programmes that make a real difference to communities and individuals.”

Community groups and local organisations are welcome to come along to the launch of the new Wirral Fuel Debt Advice Service at Wallasey Town Hall at 9.30am on Thursday 17th April.

Energy Projects Plus has received funding from the British Gas Energy Trust to deliver the Wirral Fuel Debt Advice Service, which is delivered in partnership with Wirral Citizens Advice Bureau to help those in financial hardship.

Wirral residents can apply to the service if they are in arrears to their gas or electricity supplier and are unable to pay off the debt.

Come along to the launch event to find out more.

Alternatively, call Energy Projects Plus on 0800 043 0151 or email fueldebtadvice@epplus.org.uk

Schools across Merseyside and Halton will able to benefit from a whole host of support activities to reduce their waste and become more resource efficient, thanks to a project being funded through the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) and Veolia Environmental Services Community Fund.

The School Waste Action Programme (SWAP) project is managed by the Eco Resource Network, who are a group of Merseyside based charities: Energy Projects Plus, Faiths4Change, Liverpool World Centre and Rotters Community Composting and will offer schools hands on support to reduce their impact on the environment and to engage with and trial different ways to reduce their waste from purchasing to recycling. 

More than 50 schools across Merseyside and Halton have applied to join the School Waste Action Programme, and eight have been selected for one to one support .The SWAP project will provide a dedicated Officer to enable the whole school community to engage with and trial different ways to reduce their waste from purchasing to recycling.  The aim is to enable the eight SWAP schools to reduce their waste by up to 25% by May 2014.

The remaining forty plus schools won’t miss out though as they will be able to access other support to reduce waste including a workshop ‘Sustainable Schools: Where teaching meets school business management’ in January 2014 which will provide learning and networking experience to help schools create and embed a sustainable procurement plan.

Included in the support for all the schools will be the Textile Challenge which enables the whole school community to get involved.  A school assembly will launch a textile collection in each participating school and all kinds of textiles – from curtains to cardigans – can then be brought in for recycling with every item contributing towards a recycling payment to each school too.

Cllr Graham Morgan, MRWA Chairperson said: “The Community Fund is about investing in great ideas from the community which have the potential to ultimately save us money by cutting our landfill bill – but that’s just part of it. The work we’re funding will benefit whole communities by providing training opportunities, making environmental improvements, supporting isolated or vulnerable people and helping households struggling on low income.”

Annie Merry, from the Eco Resource Network said “We’re really pleased to have such a great response and look forward to working with schools.  Many schools recognise the need to reduce their impact on the environment but despite excellent materials being available, some struggle for time to make the most of these to reduce school waste and rubbish.”

Carl Beer, MRWA Chief Executive said: “All of the projects we’re supporting represent a real range of great ideas and show just how creative people can be when it comes to thinking of new ways of encouraging people to change their waste disposal habits.”

For more information, contact Emma Ashcroft on Emma.Ashcroft@epplus.org.uk

Warmth4All has been awarded funding to continue for a second year, after establishing an innovative partnership with Widnes Foodbank and helping 1,300 local residents tackle fuel poverty.

We are now inviting community organisations, who may be interested in getting involved to contact us.

More than 1 in 5 people across the City Region are currently living in fuel poverty and with the recent announcement of significant fuel price rises; this number is expected to increase.

Warmth4All, managed by local environmental charity Energy Projects Plus, helps vulnerable households within Halton, Knowsley and Liverpool out of fuel poverty by working with community organisations such as Widnes Foodbank.

Funded by the Scottish Power Energy People Trust, the project has a face to face approach which is achieved by harnessing the support of faith communities via project partners Faiths4Change and Parish Power to take reducing fuel poverty to the heart of disadvantaged communities.

A major focus of activity for Warmth4All has involved the attendance of expert advisors from Energy Projects Plus across the network of six Widnes Foodbank centres, to give residents practical support to help them keep their homes warm at an affordable price. Clients are offered a wide range of support which includes energy saving advice, support to switch to a cheaper tariff, grants to clear fuel debt arrears and referrals for benefit maximisation and energy efficiency grants.

By working in partnership with Widnes Foodbank, the Warmth4All team can engage directly with the most vulnerable in an environment where clients feel supported. The two services complement each other; emergency issues are dealt with through the receipt of a food parcel and advice on financial support and fuel bills is provided to offer a longer term solution to fuel poverty.

Warmth4All also offers an accredited training programme to establish a network of Community Volunteer Energy Champions, enabling them to share advice and information across the community groups that they are part of. There are now 52 Warmth4All Energy Champions across the City Region, creating a legacy beyond the life of the project.

Peter Owen, Chief Executive at Energy Projects Plus says: “Warmth4All works with Widnes Foodbank to help people in immediate need and feedback from the people we’ve helped has been very positive. Fuel poverty is a growing problem across the City Region, so we invite community groups who may be interested in working with us to get in touch.”

Clare Bedford, Volunteer Project Manager for Widnes Foodbank said, “The Warmth4All team are making such a difference in people’s lives. We are proud to be part of making that happen.”

Those interested in finding out more can contact Emma Ashcroft on Emma.Ashcroft@epplus.org.uk.