Bristol project to keep out the cold
16/04/2008
Thousands of Bristolians living in miserably cold homes will breathe a sigh of relief that winter is coming to an end. Before this year’s energy price rises, 10,178 Bristol households were thought to live in fuel poverty and that number has increased significantly since then.
Warming Bristol, a local help service run by the Bristol & Somerset Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, has been lending a hand to those in need. They are urging more local residents to come forward and get the help they need by calling the free number 0800 512012.
Warming Bristol helps local residents, many of whom are elderly or suffering from poor health, by getting their homes insulated and their heating systems improved or replaced where necessary. In a lot of cases, none of the cost of the measures is borne by the householders. The service also offers help with keeping on top of ever-increasing energy bills and with dealing with situations where residents are in debt to their fuel supplier.
Finally, Warming Bristol also carries out benefit checks for residents who get in touch for help, in order to ensure they are getting all the help they are entitled to. This way, not only can their bills be lowered but their income can also be maximised.
Since the project was launched in March 2007, it has helped 756 Bristol households take action to improve their living conditions and to stay on top of their energy bills.
Mrs Jones* lives on her own in Fishponds. When her boiler broke down and she was left without heating and hot water, the Warming Bristol team helped her obtain a grant through the Warm Front scheme to have it replaced. She said:
“Someone even came round to my house to collect the paperwork to support my case. I lived for over three months with no heating or hot water, so I really appreciate it now. I was heating water on the stove and had a few accidents, so my home is safer too.”
Mr Smith* was in debt to his fuel supplier and he was also finding it very hard to keep his house warm. His problems were made all the worse by frequent periods of illness. He contacted the Warming Bristol team for help. He found the advisors “very responsive and understanding”. Warming Bristol made a referral to the Bristol Debt Advice Centre who cleared his fuel debt and also provided him with a grant for a new electric cooker. Bristol Care and Repair cleared his loft to allow for insulation to be installed. Mr Smith also had help with fixing his broken storage heaters.
Sarah Jeffrey, the head of the Warming Bristol team said: “Few experiences can be more miserable than living in a home that’s cold, damp and draughty and sadly thousands of people in Bristol are stuck in this type of situation every winter. The latest energy price rises have thrown many more into this unacceptable predicament.
"It is crucial that local residents in need of help contact Warming Bristol as soon as they can, so that our team can ensure they are not in the same situation next winter. Plenty of help is available out there, but the procedures for obtaining it are often quite complicated, which is where Warming Bristol can be very useful. We support people through the process and negotiate on their behalf so that they get the assistance they’re entitled to without the stress and the confusion they would be faced with otherwise.”
Warming Bristol provides a one-stop-shop approach for a wide range of fuel poverty related problems through a unique partnership of local organisations offering concerted support through the project. Alongside the Bristol & Somerset Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, project partners include the Bristol Debt Advice Centre, Bristol Care and Repair and Bristol Citizen’s Advice Bureau. This allows Warming Bristol to be a highly effective help service that responds to the needs of local residents with tailored support.
Warming Bristol are keen to hear from any local residents who need help or advice with making their homes warmer and more comfortable or who are struggling to keep on top of their energy bills. The team are also keen to hear from anyone who would like a free benefits check to ensure they are receiving the help they are entitled to. They are urging householders in Bristol to take action to ensure they never have to spend winter in a cold home again, by calling the team’s free number 0800 512012.
*Clients’ names were changed at their request.