National fuel poverty charity NEA and energy company E.ON, in partnership with Coventry City Council, are launching the Coventry Community Energy Fit scheme on Friday 9 December 2011. The new scheme will provide energy efficiency training for unemployed people to enable them to assist those in their community who are struggling to afford their energy bills. These Community Energy Champions will benefit from increased skills and employability, while the wider community benefits from their newly-acquired energy knowledge.
The scheme will aim to help some of the 27,000 Coventry households in fuel poverty, defined as spending more than 10% of their income on the energy needed to heat their home to the level needed to maintain good health, who may not be switching on their central heating as temperatures drop because of financial worries. Many of these households are unaware that living in a cold home can have significant health impacts and don't know how to access the help available to them. The Community Energy Fit Scheme allows trusted members of the community to support family, friends and neighbours with advice and support.
The scheme will be launched at an event held at the Council House, where the Lord Mayor of Coventry will be joined by scheme organisers and the first Community Energy Champions. This takes place during NEA's Warm Homes Campaign, a national awareness-raising initiative which aims to highlight the problem of fuel poverty and how local communities can work together to identify and assist those that cannot heat their homes affordably.
Lorraine Donaldson, Community Energy Fit Project manager at NEA said ‘'For many years now NEA has provided help to thousands of Coventry residents via the HEAT scheme, but with levels of fuel poverty now higher than ever, the Community Energy Champions will play a vital role in ensuring that no one is left out in the cold this winter''.
Suzanne Doxey, Community Relations Manager at E.ON said "In these difficult times, it's essential that energy companies, charities and communities work together to help tackle people's concerns about energy head on and face-to-face.
"We already work in partnership with the city council to develop a low carbon Coventry and to help with energy efficiency and we recently announced funding for a scheme to improve at least 300 homes in the Foleshill area of the city. This is the perfect addition to the partnership to hopefully help even more people.
"It's a harsh reality that energy prices are rising and it's vital that people have all the support they need to help them reduce their energy use and keep their bills as manageable as possible."
Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for City Development, said: "Fuel poverty is caused by a combination of elements, including inadequate thermal insulation, high fuel prices and inefficient heating systems. The training will give practical advice to alleviate the problem and benefit the health and well-being of residents and, hopefully, increase their disposable income."
If you are unemployed and would like more information on how to access free energy training call 024 768 3832
Anyone struggling to heat their home affordably can call the Coventry HEAT team on 024 7655 9191
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Notes to editors:
Community Energy Fit will be launched at 11:00 am in the Dame Ellen Terry Suite, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry. In attendance will be Members of the press are invited to attend, please contact Sarah Wright on 0191 261 5677 for further information.
About NEA:
1. NEA is the UK's leading fuel poverty charity campaigning for affordable warmth in the homes of vulnerable people. For further details visit http://www.nea.org.uk
2. 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.
3. (Table) Number of fuel poor households nationally 2011.
| Countries of the United Kingdom | Number of fuel poor households in 2010 | % of households in fuel poverty in 2010 | Number of fuel poor households in 2011* | % of households in fuel poverty in 2011* | All households*** |
| England^ | 4,021,000 | 17.80% | 5,130,000 | 22.8% | 22,530,000 |
| Scotland | 810,000 | 34.6% | 810,000 | 34.6% | 2,344,000 |
| Wales | 330,000 | 26% | 330,000 | 26% | 1,268,000 |
| N. Ireland* | 300,000 | 43.4% | 300,000 | 43.4% | 691,460 |
| UK^^ | 5,465,310 | 20.3% | 6,570,000 | 24.4% | 26,833,460 |
| GB^ | 5,163,000 | 19.7% | 6,270,000 | 24% | 26,142,000 |
4. The Warm Homes Campaign is NEA's awareness-raising initiative, aiming to highlight the problem of fuel poverty and the solutions available. Between 25 Nov and 9 Dec local events will be held to showcase examples of how fuel poverty is being tackled at a local level.
About E.ON:
1. E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies;
- E.ON Energy Solutions Limited is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies, and has around 5 million electricity and gas customers, covering domestic, SME and industrial;
- E.ON's CaringEnergy service provides a single source of help to reduce energy bills, improve energy efficiency and maximise the income of homes which are currently in or at risk of fuel poverty. Through CaringEnergy customers can get help with free or discounted cavity wall and loft insulation, a free Benefits Entitlement Check and access to a fund which supports low income households and those facing financial difficulty;
- E.ON has formed city-wide energy partnerships with local authorities including Stoke, Coventry and Sheffield to explore renewable energy technologies and improve energy efficiency;
5. For more information about E.ON's products and services, visit eonenergy.com. E.ON UK plc, Westwood Way, Westwood Business Park, Coventry, West Midlands, CV4 8LG;