Reducing Fuel Poverty in Thames Ward

Identifying the most local health concerns related to cold and warmth.

The challenge we are trying to solve

Living in a cold home can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. When a person has a pre-existing health condition these detrimental effects can be particularly severe and lead to additional health service use and hospitalisation. These threats to health will become more pronounced as the cost of living increases and the temperatures start to drop. 

Our aims of the project

Working with Cadent Foundation and LBBD, we want to develop and pilot a community delivered, sustainable, multi-agency intervention to reduce fuel poverty amongst those most at risk of negative health consequences as a result of this poverty. By co-developing this intervention with, and piloting it in, a community with particular fuel poverty and health challenges it is hoped that the intervention will not only have significant impact but could also provide a model for wider roll-out. This will address the issues of:

• Poor health (mental and physical) outcomes related to high rates of fuel poverty
• Low awareness and understanding of how to improve energy efficiency
• Lack of interventions specifically designed to address local health issues exacerbated by cold

We need your help

Cold homes affect your health. We want to develop local solutions for this winter together.

• Are you, or anyone else in your home, living with a long-term health condition? (e.g. heart condition, high blood pressure, breathing problems, diabetes, mental health, arthritis)
• Do you live in Thames View/Riverside?

We want to hear about your experiences and together come up with ideas to test locally. We will have four meetings throughout July and August. Lunch will be included and you will receive a £50 voucher at the end for taking part.

If you would like to get involved, email Rahela Begum or call/text Julie Atkins for a call back on 07872 502315.