Raising awareness of fuel poverty

Friday February 10th is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and the Council is trying to raise awareness of the issues which the event highlights.

Fuel Poverty is defined as the need to spend over 10% of household income on fuel costs to maintain adequate warmth for health and comfort. The awareness day is supported by National Energy Action (NEA) who develop and promote energy efficiency services to tackle the heating and insulation problems of low-income households in the UK.

Earlier this year Waveney District council announced that they would be working with partners across Suffolk to utilise a grant from the "Warm Homes, Healthy People" fund to help vulnerable people stay warm this winter.

The £265,000 grant from the Department of Health will be used to fund a number of initiatives, led by a special telephone line 08456 037 686, which has been set up to deal with enquiries and offer a range of support.

Now they are also supporting Fuel Poverty Awareness Day which aims to raise awareness of the issue of poor health caused by living in cold, damp homes and point people to places where they can get help and support.

Cllr Mary Rudd, Cabinet Member for Community Health said, "Fuel Poverty Awareness Day is about helping people to understand the links between fuel poverty and poor health. It's important for people to know that there are schemes in place to help them, no-one should have to live in conditions that are damaging to their health and events such as this draw attention to this crucial issue".

Waveney, along with NEA are urging people who are struggling to pay their phone bill and keep warm in their homes to call the home heat helpline on 0800 33 66 99.