The UK National Energy Action Charity
Campaigning for warm homes and to put an end to fuel poverty in Wales
Who are we?
NEA Cymru is the Welsh arm of NEA (National Energy Action) the UK’s leading fuel poverty charity. In Wales as in the rest of the UK, we campaign for an end to fuel poverty through affordable warmth for all.
Fuel Poverty in Wales
Fuel Poverty is on the rise in Wales as it is across the rest of the UK. In October 2007, the Welsh Assembly Government published the findings of its Living in Wales survey. This showed that although fuel poverty had fallen significantly between 1998 and 2004 – from 330,000 to 134,000 households - rising energy prices mean that the number of fuel poor households almost doubled to 240,000- 250,000, between 2004 and 2006. Of these households 209,000 are classed as “vulnerable”.
Behind the statistics lie real life stories, of people who are living in cold, damp homes - going without heating and putting their health at risk, or getting into unmanageable debt just to pay their bills. We hear stories of grandparents shivering in winter because they know that if they pay their heating bill, they won’t be able to afford Christmas presents for their grandchildren. We also hear of young people getting into unmanageable debt to pay their heating bills.
NEA Cymru believes that people, many of whom are very vulnerable, should not have to face these impossible choices, which ultimately impact on people’s health, personal well-being and dignity. This is why we campaign for affordable warmth for all.
Warming Up?
A crucial part of NEA Cymru’s work involves campaigning for more Government action to tackle fuel poverty. The Welsh Assembly Government has set targets to eradicate fuel poverty by 2018, with interim targets to eradicate fuel poverty among vulnerable groups by 2010 and in social housing by 2012. These targets have given emphasis and focus on the need to deliver practical help to low-income households at risk from the consequences of fuel poverty. But, there are many practical difficulties that impinge on the achievement of these targets:
- Recent energy price increases means that by the end of 2006 the average household bill for a household in Wales was over £1000. Although prices are staring to go down, slightly they are likely to remain high. Furthermore, electricity prices in Wales are 10% higher than those in England.
- 200,000 households have no access to the mains gas and for thousands solid walls makes effective insulation difficult
- Low income is a major component of fuel poverty and, despite rising economic prosperity, Wales remains amongst the poorest regions in Europe
Achieving Affordable Warmth
NEA Cymru’s work plan for Wales is designed to respond to these and other challenges. Following consultation with stakeholders, to achieve our aim we have devised the following objectives for NEA Cymru:
- Working with all political representatives to raise awareness of the resources and measures needed to eradicate fuel poverty
- Developing strong coalitions against fuel poverty to enhance knowledge and networking opportunities and ensure stakeholder experiences inform policy and practice
- Developing national qualifications and managing their implementation to improve standards of practical work and the quality of energy advice
- Developing innovative pipeline projects that contribute to the eradication of fuel poverty in Wales and provide the evidence base to inform planning and strategy for Wales as well as practical gains to our communities
Securing commitment
Some of our highlights to date include:
Warm Homes Campaign: AM’s and Welsh MP’s yearly meet vulnerable households and discover first hand the contribution energy efficiency makes to the eradication fuel poverty under our Warm Homes Week campaign;
Pre-election briefing: NEA has secured cross party commitment to fuel poverty post the Welsh Assembly Government elections
Research and analysis into the causes and extent of fuel poverty and the development of policies that address the problem
Getting everybody involved! - facilitating the North, and South Wales fuel poverty forums and ensuring stakeholders recommendations made in these sessions are considered by the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group
Building support networks and coalitions: NEA Wales supports a free information network of over 550 individuals and organisations committed to tackling fuel poverty in Wales- the network is open to anyone with a commitment to tackling fuel poverty in Wales
Training: We develop and deliver fuel poverty and energy awareness training for participants from private, public, community and voluntary organisations. One of the main courses that we deliver is the NEA 6176 City & Guilds Energy Awareness, all energy awareness advisers must gain this qualification in line with the Code of Practice.
You can help us make a difference!
Our capacity to deliver depends on our success in attracting partners, both to finance some of our proposals and to help with the practicalities of pursuing them. NEA Cymru, works in partnership with central, regional and local government; utility companies and private sector companies; voluntary and community groups; as well as consumer organisations.
Our forums and network are open and free to anyone with an interest in fuel poverty, so if you are committed to tackling the injustice of fuel poverty and want to find out more contact 
NEA Cymru
PO Box 454
SA1 9EB