Fuel Poverty

The Public Health Campaign during October and November 2011 aims to raise awareness of Fuel Poverty and promote signposting opportunities.

Fuel Poverty is defined as having to spend 10% or more of a household’s net income to heat their home to an adequate standard of warmth. This is a significant and growing problem nationally and locally: in Leeds, over 1 in 5 households in private sector housing are estimated living in Fuel Poverty.

The tangible impact of cold housing and fuel poverty on people’s health and well-being has been highlighted in the Chief Medical Officer’s report of 2009 and recent Public Health White Paper.

Direct health impacts are increased Excess Winter Deaths, cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases, mental health, minor illnesses such as colds and flu. Furthermore indirect health impacts are reduction of children’s educational attainment and dietary opportunities, and higher risk of accidents and injuries in the home (Marmot Review Team, 2011).

Target Groups

Long Term Conditions and Disabilities:

From Leeds City Council’s 2009 household survey, it was calculated that 37% of private sector households living with a long term illness in Leeds were in fuel poverty. This was considerably higher than the Leeds average of 22%.

Children, particularly under 5’s:

Cold housing conditions have a negative effect on infant’s weight gain, hospital admission rates, developmental status (including education attainment), severity and frequency of asthmatic symptoms.

Elderly, particularly those with existing medical conditions: 

Over 75s are subject to the greatest increase in deaths in winter. They are more vulnerable as they are more likely to have existing medical conditions.

Purpose

• What can the people of Leeds do to help themselves to alleviate fuel poverty?
• What signposting opportunities are out there for frontline workers?


Key messages

• Promote the Home Heat Helpline 0800 33 66 99

Trained advisers can give information on benefits, grants for free home insulation and special payment options your energy company provides to help those struggling with their fuel bills.

• Promote the Health through Warmth scheme 0113 3918336

Those living in Leeds with a long-term condition aggravated by cold and damp housing may be entitled to extra help with the cost of home energy improvements (such as insulation or boiler repairs).

OR

• Promote the Hotspots referral scheme

All other vulnerable households without long-term medical conditions, for example families with under 5-year-olds.

The scheme is administered by the South and West Yorkshire Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre (ESTAC) 0800 512 012.

Resources

Leaflets and posters will be made available through a range of outlets including GP surgeries, children’s centres, one stop centres, libraries, and voluntary and community sector agencies. A film will be shown on Life Channel in GP surgeries, promoting the Health through Warmth scheme.

More copies of the resources can be ordered from the Public Health Resource Centre or downloaded from the websites below.

Useful websites:

Home Heat Helpline www.homeheathelpline.org.uk/

Care and Repair Leeds www.care-repair-leeds.org.uk/

National Energy Action www.nea.org.uk/publication-list/

Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre  www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

Reference

Marmot Review Team (2011). The Health Impacts of Cold Homes and Fuel Poverty. Friends of the Earth England and Marmot Review Team, UCL. Downloaded via: http://www.marmotreview.org/reviews/cold-homes-and-health-report.aspx