New programmewill help thousands of vulnerable people living in cold homes
SSE has awarded FILT £850,000 in funding to improve the homes of vulnerable people through to March 2016. The Warm at Home programme will reach 4,500 vulnerable householders and carry out 2,200 warm homes jobs needed to keep people safe and warm.By repairing boilers, draught proofing and improving heating efficiency, Warm At Home aims to make a real difference for people who might otherwise have nowhere to turn.
Work on the ground will be delivered by 32 Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) operating across 133 local authority areas, from Carlisle to Kent and from Somerset to Suffolk. HIAs are local organisations placed in a unique position to identify, reach and provide solutions for at-risk people, who are often on low incomes and facing the challenges of living in cold homes – worsening health, risk of injury and social isolation. Theagencies will work collaboratively at local level with other organisations – not only energy efficiency and fuel poverty networks but also wider health and care organisations.
FILT has engaged the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University to undertake a study into the impacts of the Warm At Home service, looking at how far it has a positive effect - not only by keeping vulnerable people warm but also by preventing hazards and worsening health.
Stephen Burke, Chair of FILT said: “We are delighted to start this new partnership with SSE, which will ensure much-needed help reaches vulnerable and older people who might otherwise be at risk in their own homes.”
FILT already works with two other major energy companies and a national energy charity and has a growing reputation for helping partners to reach those most in need on a national scale via its network of local HIAs.
These programmes of assistance build on the success the charity had with FILT Warm Homes Service, a national programme backed financially by the Department of Health during the cold winter of 2012/13.
The results so far show that this outreach model is working. Over the past two years, FILT has helped more than 7,000 older and vulnerable people by distributing over £1m in charitable funds for works ranging from boiler repairs to home energy assessments and electrical safety measures.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Foundations Independent Living Trust (FILT)
FILT is a registered charity (number 1103784). Launched in 2002, it operates funds to support a variety of clients needs across England.
Grants operated by FILT include:
•npower Health Through Warmth
•British Gas Energy Trust scheme
•Gas Safe Charity scheme
For more information, please contact Paul Woolley on 0845 864 5210 or or visit
FILT Warm Homes Service
Between mid-November 2012 and end March 2013 the programme achieved:
• 385 staff including handypersons, caseworkers, technical officers received bespoke one-day training, between November 2012 and January 2013
•3,728 advice and information discussions with older and vulnerable people were completed by agencies
•6,469 householders and families benefitted from personalised, relevant information and advice to make their home a warmer environment conducive to better health and wellbeing. Agencies also positively signposted and introduced individuals to partner organisations where the need was outside the scope of the HIA or handyperson provider
•linked to these visits, 1,148 jobs were been done quickly and effectively for older and vulnerable people suffering cold homes.
An evaluation of the FILT Warm Homes Service, from Sheffield Hallam University – Centre for Health and Social Care Research and Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research is available here.
Home Improvement Agencies(HIAs)
HIAs are local organisations dedicated to helping older people, people with disabilities, and vulnerable people to live in safety and with dignity in their own homes.There are over 170 HIA providers covering more than 80% of housing authorities in Englandand dealing with more than 250,000 enquiries each year.
They help build stronger communities by providing home-based interventions to help prevent poor health and wellbeing, and supporting people to adapt their homes as their health and needs change especially through later years.