Nottingham City Council and Local Authorities across the County have joined forces to launch their new £4.3m Warm Homes Hub which will help residents struggling with their health, household income and energy costs during the Coronavirus outbreak. Together with charities Nottingham Energy Partnership and Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, the Energy Company E.ON help and support will be made available to thousands of the most vulnerable residents through their Warm Homes Hub over the next 2 years.
With restrictions on movement by the Government, the current situation is already creating devastating long-term impacts on household finances. While we are all spending more time at home, the Warm Homes team would encourage residents who have a long-term illness, to call them because of the range of support that is available, from fuel and water bill discounts, local food and prescription collections, to foodbank and fuel vouchers.
Importantly, to ease concerns for the many households possibly facing unemployment, professional help is available to complete benefit checks and other applications for hardship funds or one-off crisis grants towards essential living expenses such as food and bills.
Recognising how the current situation affects residents’ daily lives, the Warm Homes Hub is offering friendly phone calls. Grants are also available to replace broken or faulty heating, along with practical and tailored energy advice to reduce unnecessary energy consumption and ensure homes are kept warm and comfortable.
In the coming months, the Warm Homes Hub will make homes healthier, warmer and cheaper to heat with its offer of free 1st time central heating and insulation measures. This offer can save families up £4,500 on the install plus further savings on their heating bill. For peace of mind, residents are encouraged to sign up and be the first in line to get the measures installed when we are all allowed to move around more freely.
The Warm Homes Hub project is funded by the £150m Warm Homes Fund, which has been established by National Grid, and is administered by Community Investment Company, Affordable Warmth Solutions, to support local authorities to address some of the issues affecting fuel poor households. Jeremy Nesbitt, Managing Director of Affordable Warmth Solutions, said: “We are excited about this investment from National Grid and are delighted to support Nottingham City and all other District and Borough Councils to fund the scheme to address fuel poverty across the county. Solving the issues associated with Fuel Poverty continues to challenge many of our stakeholders and the feedback we’ve already received provides evidence of how the Warm Homes Fund will make a positive difference to thousands of homes throughout Great Britain.”
Miranda Cumberbatch, NEP Warm Homes Hub Manager urges people to get in touch “We have already seen a spike in the number of families young and old that are struggling because they cannot afford essential items during this anxious and upsetting time. Through great teamwork, we have been able to assist with food and fuel vouchers and applications for benefits also hardship funding. The Warm Homes Hub team can bring some comfort during this period of isolation and worry by providing a range of services to support people, particularly those that have to self-isolate, who are living on their own and or on a low income. We want to reach out to as many households as possible.”
For COVID-19 Support, call the team directly on 0115 985 3000 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5.30pm) or visit www.warmhomeshub.com/covid19 to find out more about the services offered.
For 1st time central heating, register your interest online on www.warmhomeshub.com/apply or call the team directly on 0115 985 3000 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5.30pm).
Find out more about the Warm Homes Hub scheme on www.warmhomeshub.com