Cheltenham MP Supports Warm Homes Campaign

Cheltenham MP Martin Horwood received a warm welcome today when he met Jessie Smith as part of a national campaign to highlight how energy efficiency measures are helping people stay warm and healthy in their homes, and how to get help from the Government.

The visit took place as part of the annual Warm Homes Campaign, an annual drive organised by energy efficiency charity National Energy Action (NEA), and sponsored by Warm Front scheme managers eaga and the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the effect that increasingly high energy bills are having on householders, and the range of energy efficiency grant schemes and other assistance that is available for those struggling to heat their homes affordably.

An estimated 1 in 5 households are now living in fuel poverty in the UK, 433,950 in the South West alone. Cold weather and high energy prices result in increased illness and mortality rates. During the winter of 2006-2007 there were 2800 cold-related deaths in the region. Cold and damp conditions can exacerbate a number of serious respiratory and circulatory illnesses, which can, in some cases lead to death. The elderly and disabled are most at high risk during the winter months.

Martin Horwood is one of 70 MPs, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly Members around the UK supporting the annual Campaign by visiting constituents to learn first hand how energy efficiency measures provided through a Government scheme can deliver affordable warmth this winter.

80-year old Jessie Smith from Cheltenham received a grant through the Government’s Warm Front Scheme. The funding enabled Mrs Smith to have her boiler replaced with a newer, more energy efficient one. As a result, Jessie’s home is both healthier and cheaper to heat. She also received free energy saving lightbulbs and advice on how to make her home more energy efficient.

Martin Horwood said, “I am delighted to be able to support the Warm Homes Campaign. High energy prices are putting millions of households under significant financial pressure this winter. Improving energy efficiency goes a long way to help those struggling to heat their homes. I urge everyone to contact the Warm Front team on 0800 408 2095 to find out if they are eligible for the scheme.”

Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive at NEA, said, “Over 5 million households this winter could face ill health, isolation, debt and worry due to the high cost of their energy bills. Making people aware of the support they can receive, and the measures they can take to stay warm and healthy, is vital.

“In this year’s Warm Homes Campaign we will be campaigning harder than ever to ensure that the Governments and Assemblies of the UK recognise the importance of adequately resourcing schemes to help those who are vulnerable.”

Paul Varley, Divisional Managing Director at eaga, said, “Warm Homes Campaign provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of fuel poverty whilst also making people aware of the help that is out there. For low income households help is at hand through a range of measures. For example, making sure they’re claiming the benefits they’re entitled to through Benefit Entitlement Checks, making their homes more energy efficient, and there’s lots of cheap and even free ways of doing this, and of course, by maximising grant availability through Government Schemes such as Warm Front.”

NEA is a registered charity dedicated to ending fuel poverty. If you would like to support NEA, you can do so at http://www.nea.org.uk/donate/