This campaign has now closed
We are seeking support to provide a free impartial one-stop advice service to help vulnerable householders keep their homes affordably warm and avoid getting into debt with their energy bills. We would advise and provide hand-holding support on tariffs, grants, benefit eligbility and energy efficiency solutions. We would also make referrals to additional support provided by other specialist frontline charities.
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Beneficiaries
Situation
Cornwall has the most widespread incidence of fuel poverty in the South West and the highest number of excess winter deaths in England and Wales. Rising energy costs are making it harder for vulnerable and low income people to keep their homes heated to a level needed for good health. Living in a cold damp home is detrimental to health (especially cardiovascular, respiratory, falls, mobility and mental health conditions), life expectancy, independence, educational achievement and social wellbeing. Most at risk are the elderly, children, lone parents and people with long term illnesses and disabilities. Our goal is to provide a free, impartial, one stop advice and outreach service for Cornwall that will prevent people from getting into fuel poverty and improve their quality of life. The project would employ an Affordable Warmth Advisor to help vulnerable householders who have been referred to us by frontline health, social care and charity services, as well as those who ring our helpline or visit our advice centre in Camborne. We have handled over 80,000 advice calls so far but need this additional funding to provide a deeper level of support for the most vulnerable, including home advice visits. Any contributions to help us provide this much needed charitable service would be most welcome. We are also seeking contributions towards the cost of providing room thermometer advice cards, smart meters to vulnerable households and also to create a series of short 'You Tube' style advice films.