Linda Gilroy MP is celebrating the work the Warm Front Scheme does in her Plymouth Sutton Constituency to help the most vulnerable in the community keep warm and stay healthy.

Warm Front combats fuel poverty by installing central heating and heat saving insulation work into the homes of vulnerable people, and so far has assisted 2832 households in Plymouth Sutton – a total spend of £3,359,050.37 in the area. An average home that receives the improvements can save as much as £200 a year on fuel bills.

Linda Gilroy MP said “The Warm Front Scheme provides heating and insulation to the homes of some of my most vulnerable constituents, and it has my total support. Affordable heat is a basic need that everyone should be able to benefit from, as a warm home is a healthy, happy home”.

The scheme manager, eaga plc, has reported that 1383 households have benefited from a brand new central heating system or repair to their current central heating system in Plymouth Sutton and 1727 have benefited from energy saving insulation measures since they have operated the scheme (1 June 2000 to 29 March 2008).

Householders applying for the Warm Front scheme also have the opportunity to undergo a comprehensive check to see if they are in receipt of all the benefits they are entitled to. Benefit Entitlement Checks (BEC) have been operating as part of Warm Front since June 2003, with the average weekly increase per client in Plymouth Sutton being found as £23.67.

In terms of vulnerable groups of people who have been helped by Warm Front grants, eaga has reported that 337 households with children under the age of four, 699 households on DLA and 1438 households over the age of 60 in Plymouth Sutton have benefited from improvements to their homes.

To qualify, householders need to own their own home or rent from a private landlord, and they also need to be in receipt of an income or disability related benefit. Local residents can contact the Warm Front team on 0800 316 6014 to apply for a grant.

15 May 2008