National Energy Action’s Warm Homes, Healthy Futures is a nationally coordinated network of locally delivered services that will tackle fuel poverty and improve health for tens of thousands of people across Great Britain. The programme will enable effective partnership working between health, energy and housing in various local areas.

The link between cold homes and unhealthy futures

Living in a cold home can have serious, long-lasting effects on health. Across the UK, around six million households are unable to afford to keep their homes warm. Half of these are also struggling with health problems that are made worse by the cold, such as respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

This issue places a significant burden on the NHS, with estimates suggesting over £1.4 billion is spent each year treating illnesses linked to cold housing. When wider societal impacts are considered, the cost rises to over £18 billion annually. Shockingly, more than 10,000 deaths in England each year are linked to cold, damp, and substandard housing, deaths that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence considers preventable.

Bringing support into the healthcare system

Over 20 areas across the UK have been identified under the Warm Homes, Healthy Futures initiative. Connecting health professionals, housing services, and trusted local organisations to deliver tailored energy support “on prescription” to those living with long-term health conditions and struggling with high energy costs, living in those areas identified.

Energy Projects Plus is delighted to announce we’re delivering a Warm Homes, Healthy Futures project in the Liverpool area, to support patients with chronic health conditions made worse by cold living conditions, who have postcodes beginning with L.

The programme will deliver:

• Energy-related advice and support
• Benefit checks and claim support
• Boiler servicing
• Provision of carbon monoxide monitors
• Support accessing the Priority Services Register