Launched October 2024, working in partnership SGN and Ridgewater Energy to bring together local councils, charitable, 3rd sector partners, the health sector, social housing providers and the private rented sector to tackle fuel poverty and introduce energy safeguards that help those most vulnerable maintain a safe and warm home. The partnership aims to build capacity support and access to high quality holistic home visits to get the full picture of any issues the resident is facing. This also allows for more high impact cross-referrals to other project and local partners.
The objective of the partnership is to help a wider cross-section of vulnerable BCP and Dorset residents through free bespoke home visits, to assist them in reducing their energy bills, increasing their energy safety awareness and in achieving affordable warmth. This will result in reductions in levels of fuel poverty, poor indoor air quality and health outcomes, energy debt, along with removing barriers to effective additional support and cross-referral.
Through this partnership and the development of this new service Ridgewater Energy will jointly provide:
- Train frontline workers and volunteers on energy safeguarding, energy efficiency and assistance schemes and how to refer via online or in-person sessions
- Provide households with a high-quality energy advice home visit, delivered by a qualified energy advisor, including where required, free heat-the-person items, such as heated throws and additional condensation and damp advice, survey and fact-finding (includes using a thermal imaging camera, damp meter, assessing what type of damp it might be and advising the resident on potential next steps for a resolution to the issue)
- Provide households with free small energy saving items, such as LED lightbulbs, remote controlled sockets etc, which will be funded by BCP and Dorset Council for their respective areas.
- Provide free gas boiler services to eligible vulnerable households who have not had a boiler services in the last 18 months.
- Provide some owner occupier households with a free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and provide advice and information on any funded improvements possible
- Provide clients with light touch, in person, advice through talking to advisors at events, talks and drop-ins
- Provide information on the Priority Services Register and support where required to help identified vulnerable households to sign up for support
- Provide access to the Locking Cooker Valve where required for dementia groups and/or people with autism
- Provide information on carbon monoxide safety and where required provide free carbon monoxide alarms
Find out more and apply by visit: www.ridgewaterenergy.co.uk/projects-and-services/sgn-help-for-warmth
Peter Bywater, managing director of Ridgewater Energy, attended the SGN Safe & Warm Partnership event, aimed to foster a collaboratoin among partners working in Dorset. Read the full article online: www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24925926.dorset-partnership-help-102-000-fuel-poor-households
