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LOCAL AUTHORITIES: COVENTRY
Outline of NEA Coventry activities- Projects cover a wide range of issues inherently linked to fuel poverty including health, environmental considerations, local action, voluntary sector work and training. Thus, it is understandable that NEA Coventry works alongside a number of local authorities and organisations concerned with these interrelated issues.
Key Achievements to date:
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The Hillfields Energy Action project has shown how the provision of energy advice to fuel poor households can promote much wider benefits such as social inclusion and good health. Vulnerable clients were empowered through information on fuel bills, managing money and energy saving techniques. Methods for reducing the impact of condensation on a property can decrease mould growth which can have beneficial health effects, particularly for householders suffering from respiratory illnesses. The development of social capital and enabled communities were the project aims as stipulated by Coventry City Council and the European Regional Development Fund who are the two main sponsors.
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The Coventry Health Access Partnership for Young People and their Families and Carers (CHAPY) is supported by NEA. This is through NEA Coventry’s Youth Energy Support (YES) project which targets young people as a social group requiring energy advice. First-time house occupiers, youngsters coming from a background in care, one and two parent families, young people with disabilities and other vulnerable youngsters are the specific priority groups which YES focuses upon. Partnership is a key theme of the CHAPY project with Coventry Primary Care Trust, MIND, Coventry University and several other organisations making significant contributions.
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The HEAT project in Coventry has been playing an important role in the alleviation of local pockets of fuel poverty since January 2001. The Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT) has provided information to a wide variety of vulnerable people within the Coventry area. NEA, Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern are working in partnership with a number of other organisations within Coventry. The project was initially funded for three years but due to its successes a second HEAT project commenced in October 2004.
Get a flavour of "The Heat Is On" by clicking the link below:
http://media.west-lindsey.gov.uk/theheatison_english.wmv
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The YES project was a Youth Energy Support service providing practical energy advice to young people (aged 11-25) and their family and carers. Particularly vulnerable groups in Coventry were targeted to receive the benefits of the project. These groups included parents with young children, young people leaving care or with disabilities, young people receiving means-tested benefits and young ex-offenders. However, the expertise offered by workers on the YES project was available to all groups. Free, impartial energy advice led to significant benefits for clients. Learning to use heating controls effectively also resulted in notable savings on fuel bills. Workers from the project supported clients experiencing difficulties paying fuel bills and in some cases contacted utilities to clarify and explain particular situations.
A New Project
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An Energy Efficiency DVD for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities is now contributing towards engaging people in the benefits of energy savings and how fuel bills can be significantly decreased. Funding for the work was supplied by npower Health Through Warmth Community Project Grant. The DVD is copyright free and is now available in fifteen different languages. To order a free copy please email saran.jarvie@nea.org.uk
The NEA Coventry Website
NEA Coventry has developed its very own website to promote the work of the team. You can view it at: www.neacoventry.org
Contacts: For further information on the above projects:
The Energy House, 22 Harnall Lane West, Coventry CV1 4WZ
Tel: 024 7655 9191 Fax: 024 7652 0012
NEA is always interested to hear from people and organisations involved with fuel poverty. If you feel you or your organisation could contribute to the projects or would like further details on what is happening in your area of the country please click on the email link:
Reviewed: 02/07/2007 |
