Funding has been approved for Arun District Council to continue its role of Fuel Poverty Coordinator until March 2017, which will take the Council into its tenth year of overseeing this vital County wide programme.
The Fuel Poverty Coordinator has worked in partnership with local communities, voluntary sector and statutory organisations across West Sussex to reduce the impacts of fuel poverty on our vulnerable residents.
Councillor Paul Wotherspoon, Cabinet Member for Community Services at Arun District Council, said: “The Council welcomes the continued delivery of initiatives to reduce fuel poverty in West Sussex and supporting those people in our district who need our help, particularly in the Arun District.”
Fuel poverty is an ongoing problem nationally and across West Sussex, not heating a home properly can lead to severe health and social problems and it’s the most vulnerable in society who are the most likely to be affected.
Those most at risk are older people aged 60 plus and low income families with children under 16, accounting for over 45% of fuel poor households and those who are disabled or have a long term illness which account for over 35% of the fuel poor.
A number of factors can lead to fuel poverty including a low household income, high energy prices and poor energy efficiency of the home.
People in fuel poverty spend a larger share of their income on energy bills and for many it’s a simple question of ‘heat or eat’. In order to keep the house warm people may be left with inadequate nutrition or can only afford to heat part of their home or tolerate lower indoor temperatures. This can lead to condensation, damp and mould which can also contribute to health issues including cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, flu and an increase in heart attacks and strokes.
The Fuel Poverty Coordinator has been successful in running the winter emergency heater scheme, training frontline health and social workers to assist clients in fuel poverty, supporting grant funded replacement boiler schemes, raising awareness of practical and financial help available to residents. Future initiatives will include giving out and promoting ‘Winter Warmth’ packs for those in crisis situations, developing programs that align with the Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy and to support those with specific health problems.