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Arun Wellbeing Fuel Poverty Team scoop awards

Arun Wellbeing Fuel Poverty Team scoop awards

 

Arun District Council project to keep vulnerable Arun and Chichester residents warm scoops national award

Arun District Council and project partners are celebrating after their project was named a national Community Action Award winner.

The Community Action Awards, which are run by national fuel poverty charity NEA in partnership with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and British Gas, recognise excellence and innovation in tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency amongst vulnerable households.

Arun District Council’s award of £1,500 will help them to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable people across the Arun and Chichester districts. The Council’s project involves identifying those at risk, providing energy advice either over the phone or in resident’s own homes, and . implementing the changes needed to lift them out of fuel poverty.

The project staff are part of the Council’s well-being team and are trained to signpost a range of other services available to vulnerable residents, as well as running outreach events in the community. 

Councillor Andy Cooper, Chairman of Arun District Council l said: “We are delighted that the hard work and innovation shown by the Arun wellbeing Fuel Poverty team is being recognised. It is so important that we do what we can to ensure that vulnerable members of our community are in a position to be able to keep warm and the Fuel Poverty Team provide a vital service in this aim .”

Maria Wardrobe, Director of External Affairs at NEA said: “More than 9000 households in Arun and Chichester are experiencing the impacts of fuel poverty. Local authorities and other groups working in partnership are vital to helping them and I’m delighted that Arun District Council has won a Community Action Award for their work. I would like to thank DECC and British Gas for supporting the initiative.”

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd said:

‘My number one priority is to keep energy bills down for hardworking people and businesses across the country and these fantastic local energy-saving projects will help people to have warmer homes and cheaper bills. The Government is taking action by promoting competition and funding the Big Energy Saving Network which encourages charities and community groups to help people across Britain make their homes more energy efficient or switch to a different energy supplier or deal. Switching is one of the easiest ways of keeping your bills low, and we’ve made it easier than ever to do it.’

Christine Tate, Head of Corporate Responsibility at British Gas said: “We’re proud to support the great work Arun Council’s fuel poverty team is doing to promote energy advice to local residents. By working together with NEA and supporting projects like this, we can help people become more energy efficient, take control of their energy use and reduce the cost of their bills.”

The next phase of the Community Action Awards is now open for entries. If you are a community group, charity, or third sector organisation and are running a project helping to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency among vulnerable households please go to the NEA homepage or contact Nina Dunlavy at NEA nina.dunlavy@nea.org.uk.