Minister welcomes new guide to tackling fuel poverty in Wales
A new guide has been produced to help local authorities and other organisations in Wales in the fight against fuel poverty. “Beating the Cold”, published by NEA (National Energy Action) Cymru, brings together the experiences of the 22 Welsh local authorities and partner organisations to provide a guide to what works best when tackling fuel poverty. Funded by SWALEC and the Welsh Assembly Government, the guide provides examples of how communities are helping to combat fuel poverty on the ground so that local organisations working in other areas can replicate and learn from successful projects and help more people. The impact of these projects is illustrated with real quotes and examples from those tackling fuel poverty locally.
“Beating the Cold” is available to all local authorities and other organisations in Wales and can be used to inform the Affordable Warmth Action Plans, and to help local authorities and their partner organisations to identify and help fuel poor households. It is now available for download.
Fuel poverty and local government
Thursday 2nd October 2008 Temple of Peace, Cardiff
The role local government plays in the fight against fuel poverty
Recent energy price increases, compounded by lower than average incomes and poorly
insulated housing, have meant the number of Welsh households experiencing fuel poverty has more than doubled in recent years. With further energy price increases predicted, there is an urgent need for action to tackle this serious problem.
Local government and local stakeholders play a vital role in helping combat fuel poverty.
Councils deliver a wide range of policies and services that are inextricably linked with fuel
poverty including sustainable development, housing, energy efficiency, the environment, social services and health.
The Welsh Assembly Government has worked closely with National Energy Action Cymru to
develop affordable Warmth Action Plans to help drive action at a local level. In December
2006 NEA Cymru held a conference which helped inform Beating The Cold: A Guide to Local
Action. The guide contains ideas and examples of best practice gathered at the event.
This workshop will to provide a platform in which to discuss the role Local Government plays
in combating fuel poverty and will take into account the current energy market, the review of the Home Energy Conservation Act, the introduction of Local Service Boards and how key
strategies and plans can be made and are being made to work to help find localised solutions to fuel poverty. The outcomes of the discussions will feed into the Ministers review of the Fuel Poverty Strategy and the development of the Welsh Assembly Government National Energy Efficiency and Savings Plan.
We will also share with stakeholders our new Community Leadership project which has been developed with financial support from SWALEC and guidance from the Welsh Local
Government Association. The project is the first of its kind in Wales and involves working with two Scrutiny Committees to implement a scrutiny review on fuel poverty. Scrutiny Committees
provide an excellent opportunity to ensure actions contained in the Local Authorities
Affordable Warmth Action Plans are being implemented, and that good practice is being
developed.
Expected Outputs
Discuss policy drivers and barriers
Highlight innovative solutions and identify resources
Find out more about a new Community Leadership project being developed in Wales
Places are limited so please make sure you send your completed form to
tracy.norris@nea.org.uk by Wednesday 17th September.
New face at NEA
Helen Roach has recently joined NEA Cymru in the new post of Development Officer. She previously worked as National Coordinator for the Welsh Assembly Government’s Keep Well this Winter campaign, based with Age Concern Cymru.
Helen Roach said, “While coordinating the Keep Well this Winter campaign, I learned of the impact of poorly heated homes on the lives of vulnerable people, which has made me passionate about the issue and I am really looking forward to working as part of NEA Cymru to help and challenge the government to meet its targets to eliminate fuel poverty.”
Helen’s key areas of work with NEA Cymru will be policy work, project development and research, campaigning, support for Welsh public bodies and voluntary sector representation.
Helen will be based at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff and can be contacted on Helen.roach@nea.org.uk or 029 2064 4520.
She joins Director Nuria Zolle and Training and Development Officer Jane Edgington in NEA Cymru.
Consultation Response
1 Response to the Welsh Assembly Communities Next Consultation
3 Energy Supply Markets Probe – Wales
6 Rural Health submission September 2008
Feel The Heat Awards Scheme 2008
Tackling fuel poverty vital as energy prices rise
Helping vulnerable people pay their fuel bills in the face of the rising energy prices is vital; Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister Jane Davidson told a conference organised by leading fuel poverty charity National Energy Action.
The Welsh Assembly Government Minister said she was determined to everything she could to help make fuel more affordable for those least able to pay rising fuel bills.
Jane Davidson said: “I am very happy to support the Feel the Heat Awards. The Welsh Assembly Government is determined to do everything we can to make it more affordable for vulnerable people on low incomes to heat their homes in Wales. We need to work with partners to drive this forward and recognising good practice is very important.”
The award scheme is sponsored by SWALEC and run by the leading fuel poverty charity in Wales, NEA Cymru which is supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Follow this link for details of award winners
Nuria Zolle, NEA Cymru Director said: “Fuel poverty in the UK, including Wales, has risen to an alarming degree over the last few years, essentially because of the rises in fuel prices. It requires Government commitment, activity by the energy suppliers, charity campaigning and agency innovation to reverse this rise and we have some excellent examples of different initiatives to tackle fuel poverty in this award scheme.
“The extra funding will support action to build on existing work and invest on innovative solutions that help address the issues that matter the most to their communities. Local agencies are at the forefront of work to provide affordable warmth to vulnerable households and it is these organisations this award scheme is helping. We are grateful to SWALEC and the Welsh Assembly Government for supporting this award scheme and hope it will help us gather evidence of the type of funding that is needed in Wales.”
Andrew Lloyd, Energy Efficiency Project manager, SWALEC said: “We’re really pleased to be able to support NEA with both their forum and the Feel the Heat award scheme. SWALEC wants to be able to help householders save money on their heating bills so that no one is living in a cold home; supporting NEA Cymru’s Feel the Heat award scheme is one way that SWALEC are able to see that this is happening.”
Fuel Poverty Forums - North and South Wales
NEA Cymru hosts Fuel Poverty Forums in North and South Wales. The meetings are aimed at strategic policy makers, service providers, and community groups, as well as interested individuals who want to eradicate fuel poverty in their communities.
South Wales Fuel Poverty Forum November 12th 2008 Sponsor SWALEC
Welsh Centre for International Affairs
Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3AP
North Wales Fuel Poverty Forum November 19th 2008 Sponsor Scottish Power
Royal International Pavilion,
Abbey Road, Llangollen Denbighshire LL20 8S
2007 Warming Up: Taking Action Consultation Workshop 4th December 2007 Llandrindod Wells
Jane Davidson Minister for Housing, Environment and Sustainable Development and Dr Winckler, Director of the BEVAN foundation addressed this consultation workshop. The workshop helped identify the type of action needed at a community level to tackle fuel poverty.
To date, good progress has been made in developing Affordable Warmth Action plans in the 22 local authority areas across Wales and most of the local authority areas have agreed, or are close to agreeing, their plans. The workshop helped us identify how to build on this progress by taking stock of what is working and what more needs to be done as we move forwards from the phase of developing plans to delivering action that helps makes a difference to fuel poor households.
The day was composed of participative workshops designed to identify the examples of good practice - the effective projects, partnerships and strategies - that undoubtedly exist in Wales. Participants were also asked to identify what further support is needed in future, and what opportunities exist to help translate plans into action.
The event held informed the development of a good practice guide for local authorities and partners, currently being developed by NEA Cymru.
The booklet: Beating the cold: A guide for local action is now available to download in English and Welsh
Warm Homes Campaign
The Warm Homes Campaign (formerly Warm Homes Week) started in 1991 as a way of raising awareness on a national level of the major impact of fuel poverty. The campaign aims to promote increased investment in energy efficiency to reduce fuel poverty and to publicise the availability of grant aid to low-income households.
A key aim of the campaign is to inform MPs, Welsh Assembly Members (AMs) and other decision makers about the health problems caused by living in cold, damp homes and the benefits that increased investment in energy efficiency can bring.
In November- December 2007 1 MP and 6 AM’s took part in the campaign in Wales and, a number of events where also organised during the campaign to publicise innovative projects operating at a local, regional and national level to help alleviate the problem of fuel poverty.
The Warm Homes Campaign 2007 was organised in association with eaga and is
supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in
England and Wales. NEA acknowledges the active support given by the Warm Front and HEES scheme managers, eaga in identifying the clients visited by AM’s and MPs.
- Jane Davidson AM
- Nick Ainger MP
- Bethan Jenkins AM
- Alun Cairns AM
- Mick Bates AM - http://tinyurl.com/25qybe
- Sandie Mewies AM
- Dr Brian Gibbons AM
In this years campaign Neath and Port Talbot’s Welfare Rights Team won £500 from NEA to help organise an income maximisation event for families with children- watch this space you could be next!
Beating the Cold: Action to eradicate fuel poverty in Wales.
A report on the findings of the National Energy Action Cymru conference held at the Marriot Hotel, Cardiff on the 27th June 2007, is available to download. Key note speakers included, Ms Sugar (Chair of the Welsh Consumer Council), Dr Rogers (Director of NHS), Ms Whittaker (Director of Housing in the Welsh Assembly Government), Mr. Benfield ( Chief Executive WCVA) and Mr. Dimblebee ( Engagement Partner WAO).
This report provides a brief summary of the plenary discussions and records the substance of the workshop discussions (which were facilitated by members of young people groups and older people networks) highlighting areas for future activity and ideas for action. Click here
LIVING IN WALES SURVEY
In October 2007 the Welsh Assembly Government published its Living in Wales Report, this confirmed our biggest fear. From 2001-2006 increased energy prices have meant the number of people experiencing fuel poverty in Wales has almost doubled to nearly a quarter of a million households!
View Report
If you want to find out more, contact Jane Edgington, Training and Development Officer
jane.edgington@nea.org.uk
T: 01490 413 223
M: 07730519207