Working in partnership to tackle fuel poverty and improve health
Warm Homes, Healthy Futures is a National Energy Action-led project. It is a nationally co-ordinated network, connecting health and social care sectors, that delivers support locally to keep people warm, safe and healthy at home.
Together, we – with health, housing and energy experts – are working to tackle fuel poverty and improve health for thousands of people across England, Scotland and Wales.
National Energy Action and partners will work to support local health and housing bodies to harness critical insights and evidence the positive impact that fuel poverty services have.
These insights will highlight best practice in delivery, the benefits to health, as well as the lived experience of support.
The programme will enable effective partnership working between health, energy and housing, working collaboratively at area-based levels to tackle health inequalities and fuel poverty as part of a shared agenda.
Warm Homes, Healthy Futures is funded by the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance Fund. The programme is supported by the gas networks, Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, SGN, and Wales and West Utilities.
The link between cold homes and unhealthy futures
As long-term campaigners against fuel poverty, we know that cold, damp, poor-quality homes are disastrous for physical and mental health and wellbeing.
Damp homes are linked to a 30-50% increase in respiratory problems.
A quarter of young people living in cold homes have multiple mental health risks, compared to 1 in 20 in warm homes.
Hospital admissions for COPD are four times more likely during winter.
On average, 10,000 people die each year from living in a cold home.
By working with trusted health and social care professionals, the Warm Homes, Healthy Futures programme aims to reach those most in need and connect them to vital free advice and support, including:
Energy efficiency and energy saving advice, and support with understanding energy use, suppliers and bills.
Benefit checks, income maximisation and claims support.
Servicing of gas boilers and appliances, and help with accessing grants for repair or replacement of boilers.
Carbon monoxide awareness and provision of free CO alarms.
Help with accessing Priority Services Registers.
Access to other available crisis support such as Winter Warmth Packs, bill credits and fuel vouchers.
Now a year into delivery, the Warm Homes, Healthy Futures programme is active in more than 80 locations across Great Britain, working with 26 well-established delivery partners from dedicated energy advice organisations, and over 100 referral partners across the health, social care and voluntary sectors.
To date, the project has:
Supported more than 5,000 individuals with energy advice, such as energy efficiency, insulation ideas, and dealing with suppliers and bills.
Secured more than £3 million in financial gains for clients through benefit checks and claims support.
Reached more than 5,000 people through community events.
Trained nearly 400 frontline professionals.
Who we are working with
Be part of Warm Homes, Healthy Futures
If you’d like to join us or find out more, email the team at healthyfutures@nea.org.uk and we’ll be in touch.
Client story Amina was referred to National Energy action, after a traumatic period in her life, suffering from depression and anxiety and living in a draughty home with inadequate heating and cooking appliances.
Our adviser supported Amina with energy use advice and provided her with an electric clothes airer, oil-filled radiator, air fryer and cookbook, and a draught excluder. Through our Benefits Entitlement Check Service (BECS)
Amina was helped with successful PIP and LCW applications and given advice around her council tax payments and accrued debt. Our adviser says: ‘Amina’s PIP award has not only boosted her income but also given a boost to her mental health. She now feels like her mental health condition – she has been suffering from for years – has been recognised.’
