News Date: Wednesday 17th October 2007
Tim: "Keep Warm this Winter in East Worthing and Shoreham"
East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton MP is celebrating the work the Warm Front scheme does in his constituency to help the most vulnerable in the community to keep warm and stay healthy.
Warm Front, which combats fuel poverty by installing central heating and heat saving insulation work into the homes of vulnerable people, has so far assisted 3118 households in East Worthing and Shoreham - a total spend of ?2,473,335.55 in the area.
Tim commented:
"The Warm Front scheme provides heating and insulation to the homes of some of my most vulnerable constituents. Affordable heat is a basic need that all should be able to benefit from, as a warm home is a healthy, happy home."
The scheme manager, eaga plc, has reported that 931 households have benefited from a brand new central heating system or repair to their current central heating system in East Worthing and Shoreham and 1942 have benefited from energy saving insulation measures since they have operated the scheme (1 June 2000 to 30 June 2007).
Householders applying for the Warm Front scheme also have the opportunity to undergo a comprehensive check to see if they are in receipt of all the benefits they are entitled to. Benefit Entitlement Checks (BEC) have been operating as part of Warm Front since June 2003, with the average weekly increase per client in East Worthing and Shoreham being found as ?9.09.
In terms of vulnerable groups of people who have been helped by Warm Front grants, eaga has reported that 338 households with children under the age of four, 593 households on DLA, and 1957 households over the age of 60 in East Worthing and Shoreham have benefited from improvements to their homes.
To qualify, householders need to own their own home or rent from a private landlord, and they also need to be in receipt of an income or disability related benefit. Local residents can contact the Warm Front team on 0800 316 6014 to apply for a grant.
ENDS
