NEA established a regional office presence in 2007 following over a decade of project-based activity across the West Midlands, which still continues today. The West Midlands Regional Co-ordinator currently works out of NEA’s regional office in Coventry and can provide further details on any of the following work programmes and partnership activities. NEA also has an area office based within Coventry delivering a range of projects – contact details are listed below.
Key regional partnerships:
NEA is currently developing its regional office presence and is making links with regional government, health and other agencies. NEA hopes to build upon this activity in coming years both in policy and project development activity.
Current work programme:
In accordance with NEA's business plan, NEA continues to expand its work in the region by:
- Increasing NEA’s involvement at the regional level to promote implementation of the Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy
- Further development of Affordable Warmth Strategies with local authorities, assisting those with strategies to implement, monitor and review them and helping authorities to move towards the establishment of Warm Zones
- Expansion of consultancy services for local authorities, housing providers and other organisations
- Promotion of energy champions
- Establishment of skills centres
- Further developing technical projects; and
- Continuing a proactive regional fuel poverty forum
Examples of current policy and practice development activity include:
Practical projects:
NEA is currently taking forward a range of practical projects in the West Midlands principally focussed on the alleviation of health inequalities and fuel debt. These are being developed by colleagues in the Coventry area office, see contact details below.
Policy development:
Regional policy matrix development
NEA maintains a regional policy matrix for the nine regions in England, including the West Midlands. The matrix highlights current fuel poverty commitments across a broad range of strategies and allows NEA to monitor the progress of implementation activity. The matrices are reviewed and updated bi-annually, which also provides an opportunity to map progress in commitments at a regional level to meet national fuel poverty targets. For further details contact NEA's Regional Co-ordinator.
Technical projects:
NEA has a broad technical programme which seeks to develop new affordable warmth solutions for low-income and other vulnerable households living in fuel poverty. For more information on current projects contact NEA’s Technical Manager, Arthur Scott by email or telephone 0191 261 5677.
Forthcoming Events:
West Midlands Poverty Forum
NEA holds regional Fuel Poverty Forums three times per year throughout England and Wales . The Fuel Poverty Forums are targeted at strategic policy makers and frontline service providers and aim to:
- Examine policy and practical initiatives related to fuel poverty and delivering energy efficiency solutions at a local, regional, and national level
- Showcase innovation and best practice
- Promote dialogue and discussion on a wide range of sectoral issues
- Help NEA shape policy developments and campaigns
See NEA’s Events Diary for details of forthcoming Forums.
'Spotlight on fuel poverty' seminars
The seminar will explore opportunities for regional agencies to take a leading role in addressing the fuel poverty challenge via future integrated strategies. The seminars bring together senior policy makers with representatives from organisations working on the ground to deliver solutions to fuel poverty and will be targeted at representatives from local authorities, community and voluntary sector organisations, the business sector, health sector, regional development agencies, and regional agencies/groups with an interest in energy efficiency and fuel poverty. See NEA's Events Diary for details.
Contact details:
For more information on NEA’s current activities or advice on consultancy or partnership development projects in the West Midlands please contact Judy Best or Saleem Sheikh on 024 7655 9191 or email judy.best@nea.org.uk or saleem.sheikh@nea.org.uk