"Very high demand" for fuel poverty service in Staffordshire
The advice service has already helped over three thousand families in just 6 months
Last updated 17th Jun 2024
An advice service, set up to help people in fuel poverty in Staffordshire, has already helped over three thousand people in just 6 months.
Beat the Cold says there has been "very high demand" for its energy advice service, since the current version in Stoke-on-Trent opened in November.
It will run for two years, jointly funded through £100,000 from Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the government and the NHS.
The service works by helping households maximise income and reduce fuel costs, signposting them to financial support, and facilitating repairs and home improvements.
Since November clients have received fuel and food vouchers and other financial support totalling £541,475.
Fiona Miller, development and partnership manager at Beat the Cold, told Stoke-on-Trent’s health and wellbeing board that the service was making progress in reducing fuel poverty in the city.
She said: “We had an annual target of 3,000 households and we have met that in six months. Demand is very, very high. We are seeing a significant level of crisis requiring crisis intervention through the Household Support Fund, and the wider cost of living crisis.
“Our work is heavily designed around making sure that the fabric of homes is fit for purpose and designed to reduce cold-related ill health. That remains the focus, and we’re trying to balance that with immediate crisis relief needs. We are delighted to say that’s going in the right direction.”