Teamwork helps more than 60 ‘fuel poor’ homes in Blackpool

Warren Ward, Director of Barkers, a procurement consultancy based in Chorley, stepped in when he saw data that said Blackpool had more households classed as fuel poor (15.2 per cent) than any other part of Lancashire,

Warren, who is an executive director on the Fylde Coast Responsible Business Network, connected Julia Dwyer, director of the Cadent Foundation, with Maggie Cornall, director of Operations at Blackpool Coastal Housing which manages the council’s social housing stock and provides related services to its tenants and leasehold customers.

Together they collaborated to fund and establish the Warm and Healthy Homes Project, an initiative that supports vulnerable people to access support that will improve energy efficiency within their homes.

In the first three months of the project, 67 households benefited from the scheme which facilitates individual assessments by a trained Advisor, followed by bespoke solutions such as replacement of inefficient heating systems, installation of insulation or the repair of energy release hotspots in the home.

As well as support with practical measures, households can also receive affordable warmth advice, help with managing fuel debt, and assistance with claiming the Warm Homes Discount.

Julia Dwyer, Director at Cadent Foundation, explains further: ‘The cost of living crisis is a very real issue of concern affecting thousands of households across the country. We’ve all heard the headlines that gas and electricity prices will almost double by the end of the year which has the potential to plunge countless households into uncertainty. That’s why the Warm and Healthy Homes Project is so vital.

"The more that we can do to help people to make their homes energy efficient, the lower those bills will be.”

Maggie Cornall said: ‘It’s been fantastic to work with the Cadent Foundation, and then Cadent itself too, the result of which has seen a real and tangible benefit to individuals and families in Blackpool. We are committed to continue this work and have identified additional opportunities for Cadent and BCH to focus on improving our impact on the wider community. We are in discussions to lower our carbon footprint for example, and Cadent are supporting us through this process.’