Thanks to funding from the Energy Redress Scheme, we are delighted to announce we are delivering our St. Helens Warm Homes For Lungs project, to continue the amazing work of several fuel poverty pilot projects, led by our key health partners:

• Warm Homes For Lungs

Supporting patients with COPD living in areas of deprivation, to access interventions to reduce their energy bills and keep them feeling warm through Winter.

• Warm Homes For Young Lungs

As the name suggests, this strand of the project supports families of children with asthma, or an undiagnosed pre-school wheeze, living in areas of deprivation.

• Breathe Buddies

The Breathe Buddies team delivers interactive workshops for families of children with asthma, or an undiagnosed pre-school wheeze.

• SMS Warmer Homes Direct

Our first pilot, in Knowsley, was incredibly successful. We co-designed a simple text message (which could also be issued via email or letter) together with health professionals, and patient participatory groups, which led to thousands of patients being offered advice and support, and hundreds of patients taking up that offer.

In addition to continuing the great work of these 4 pilots for the next 18 months, Energy Projects Plus will provide leaflets and posters to any health teams who want to promote our service, and we will be getting out and about, delivering pop-up energy efficiency advice stalls, primarily within clinical settings.

To learn more about this project, and to request leaflets/posters, or an energy event at your venue, email Project Manager, Dominic Griffiths, at dominic.griffiths@epplus.org

Project Summary

Over 14,000 residents in St Helens have chronic health conditions made worse by cold and live within the most deprived quintile of Lower Layer Super Output Areas. St. Helens Warm Homes for Lungs will combine and scale-up four successful pilots directly linking health services targeting vulnerable consumers suffering chronic health conditions made worse by cold and energy advice and support services to reduce energy demand and lower fuel bills whilst achieving adequate warmth in the home.

A key element will be working with the local Primary Care Networks and GP Practices, and our initial priorities will be to engage with patients with COPD or families with an indication of a child with asthma, or a preschool wheeze. By incorporating trusted health professionals within our project team, we’re able to directly target patients living in, or at risk of the impacts of fuel poverty.

We will provide energy advice to them during clinical review sessions, at face-to-face events, over the telephone, and within their homes. Furthermore, we will incorporate energy advice into “Breathe Buddies” workshops that engage directly with families containing asthma sufferers.

Initial engagement with patients through the trusted health relationship includes GPs issuing simple text messages to as many vulnerable patients as possible, offering them access to energy advice support.

Other routes include face-to-face encouragement through health reviews, workshops, and drop-ins at health sector locations.

Broader promotion through posters and literature will also be used. Over 3,600 vulnerable households will receive a mix of light-touch and in-depth energy advice.