Warm Front in Bishop Auckland
Grandparents Joan and Ernest Hodgson gave a warm welcome to Helen today when she visited them in their home.
Helen was giving her support to the Warm Front scheme, which works to get vulnerable people out of fuel poverty by providing central heating and insulation.
Mr and Mrs Hodges, both 69, of Bridge Street, were helped by the scheme, which is managed by Eaga Partnership, based in Newcastle.
They were given central heating and insulation to help keep their home warm.
It combats cold homes by providing a grant of up to £2,700 for insulation and heating improvements, such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, draught proofing and central heating.
The scheme has helped almost 4,000 households in Bishop Auckland in the last five years and up to £1.78m worth of work has been carried out in the area.
Helen Goodman made the visit to find out about the difference having a warm home has made to her constituent’s lives.
She said: “Hundreds of people struggle to heat their homes and face serious health risks as a result.
“The Labour Government introduced the Warm Front scheme precisely to help vulnerable people make their homes warm, and I am very happy that so many people in Bishop Auckland have had their standard of living dramatically improved.
“It’s a fantastic scheme and I would urge those not on the scheme to find out if they qualify for such assistance.
“It was a pleasure to meet Mr and Mrs Hodges in their home to find out how Warm Front has improved their lives.”
Warm Front is the Government’s main initiative for tackling cold homes and forms the cornerstone of the Prime Ministers commitment to eradicate fuel poverty in England by 2010.
The Warm Front scheme is available to people who are receiving certain benefits and is specifically designed for owner occupiers and people who rent their homes from private landlords who may benefit from heating and insulation measures to keep their homes warmer.
These grants are targeted at those most vulnerable to cold related health – older households, families with young children, disabled people and those with a long-term illness.
Households qualify for Warm Front if they receive certain income, or disability related benefits.
Residents who are over 60 and receiving benefits, families with children under 16 and expectant mothers receiving income related benefits could be eligible for the scheme.
People who receive certain disability related benefits, people suffering from a long term illness and households that are working, but are earning less than £15,050 a year and are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, are entitled to apply.
Schemes like Warm Front can make a massive difference to the standard of living for people struggling to heat their homes.
Graeme Stevenson, from the Warm Front Team, said: “There is help available for people who struggle to heat their homes this winter. Central heating should not be a luxury only for those that can afford it. Warm Front will make a warm home available to everyone that needs it.”
For more information about how Warm Front can help you contact 0800 316 6014.
Filed under: Uncategorized on February 3rd, 2006
