Vulnerable people in Babergh and Mid Suffolk are being further helped to stay warm this winter with the news of a one-off grant.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk, in partnership with Suffolk County Council and other partners in the county, are working to help tackle winter fuel poverty with a £265,000 grant from the Department of Health’s ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People’ fund.

The grant will be used to fund a number of initiatives including:

• Borough and district councils will offer advice to anyone struggling to keep warm this winter 
• Independent energy advisors will visit households struggling to pay their energy bills to offer advice and install measures to save money and energy
• Suffolk Acre roadshows to promote their good neighbour and community oil buying schemes
• Match funding for Suffolk Foundation’s ‘Surviving Winter’ Appeal to allow (in addition to older people) other vulnerable groups to benefit, including young families and people with disabilities
• Installation of FREE extreme temperature sensors in vulnerable people’s homes 
• A befriending service 
• A central telephone number people can call for information, advice and support. Tel: 08456 037 686

There are an estimated 6,900 households in Babergh and 7,900 in Mid Suffolk that are classed as being in fuel poverty – a term used where more than 10 per cent of an household’s monthly income is spent on fuel bills.

John Kilgannon, Babergh’s Environmental Protection Manager, said: "Babergh is acutely aware that with rising fuel prices and the current economic climate more and more people are living in fuel poverty.

 “This grant is good news for the most vulnerable in our communities. They are especially relevant at this time of year when temperatures start to drop and there are sections of the community who may not be able to afford to install proper heating systems in their homes, let alone turn them on.

"If you are suffering with a cold home Babergh can usually help low income residents, so please call and we will do all we can - either directly by putting people in touch with relevant agencies to make sure Babergh residents are warm this winter."

And Bob Smith Mid Suffolk’s Private Sector Housing lead officer, said: “With approximately 20% of households in the district calculated as living in fuel poverty, we know that more needs to be done to help people cope with cold weather. Not being able to heat your home properly can result in lower educational attainment for children and unnecessary winter deaths amongst the vulnerable. This initiative has the potential to provide a significant benefit to those struggling with limited incomes and high energy bills and we hope to be able to help a lot of people this winter.”

Councillor Colin Noble, Suffolk County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult and Community Services, added: “It is a sad fact that in this day and age that there are still a large number of people who cannot afford to sufficiently heat their homes. By working with our partners across the county we have been able to secure funding which will help these members of our communities. It is important that we do as much as we possibly can to ensure that everyone stays warm and well this winter. 
 
“The work we can support as a result of this funding will make a real difference to a significant number of people across the county and whilst this is one off funding many of the initiatives will hopefully be maintained for future years.”

The special telephone line, 08456 037 686, has been set up to deal with enquiries and can offer:

• Free information, advice and support to anyone struggling to keep warm this winter
• Installation of free community alarms fitted with extreme temperature sensors in vulnerable people’s homes, along with a befriending service
• Free temporary heater loan scheme
• Free emergency boiler repairs for vulnerable households through the Age UK ‘Surviving Winter’ Appeal and funding through the Warm Homes project.  Groups to benefit will include the over 60s, families on a low income, families with children and young people with learning disabilities
• Free insulation and small energy efficiency improvement jobs including draught proofing
• Free independent energy surveys in the home to help households struggling to pay their energy bills by offering advice and providing help to install measures to save money and energy
• Road shows run by Suffolk Acre to promote their good neighbour and community oil buying schemes

Further information is available www.suffolk.gov.uk/warmhomes

ENDS
 
Notes to editors
 
Initiatives that will be undertaken using the grant include:
 

• Borough, District and county councils in partnership with Suffolk Careline and Contact Care (operated by Saffron Housing) will be installing community alarms fitted with extreme temperature sensors in vulnerable people’s homes 
• Each borough and district council will be contacting in the region of 1000 households this winter, following these up with visits where appropriate and providing quick access to services which will help households cut their energy bills.
• Suffolk Acre is delivering road shows to promote Good Neighbour Scheme, fuel debt and energy efficiency advice for residents
• It is estimated that 38 per cent of Suffolk homes do not have access to mains gas. Suffolk Acre are establishing an Oil Consortium to allow residents to purchase oil at reduced costs,  People can join the new community-based oil buying syndicate by calling 01473 345300 or email oil@communitybuying.org.uk
• Suffolk Foundation’s ‘Surviving Winter’ Appeal through this additional funding have been able to extend their support and funding to young families and people with learning disabilities. If you wish to know more Tel:  01473 734120 or visit www.suffolkfoundation.org.uk
• Age UK’s Winter Wrapped Up leaflet, (which includes a thermometer) is being distributed to people across the county.

For further information:   

Paul Simon, Communications & PR Manager, (01473) 826634, e-mail: paul.simon@babergh.gov.uk

Emma Morton, Communications Officer, (01473) 825745, e-mail: emma.morton@babergh.gov.uk

Vicky Smy, Senior Communications Officer, Mid Suffolk District Council 01449 724850, email: vicky.smy@midsuffolk.gov.uk