Council backing for Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Blackburn with Darwen Council is joining forces with local and national organisations to support Fuel Poverty Awareness Day taking place today, Friday November 27.

The national day of recognition is designed to highlight the problems faced by those struggling to keep warm in their homes and all the work being undertaken to tackle the issue.

This is especially crucial this year with the coronavirus pandemic forcing people to spend more time at home.

Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

Keeping people warm and healthy during winter is vitally important and a key priority for us, especially as part of our response to the pandemic. We’re all spending more time at home, which means more people may need support with fuel costs and affordable heating. This national day of recognition gives practical advice and guidance on the services available to support and raises much needed awareness.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day comes in the same week the Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Mohammed Khan, announced Government funding to help families struggling with food and bills this winter but warned government needed to do more to tackle poverty.

Read more here.

In Blackburn with Darwen a range of services are available to support people in, or at risk of, fuel poverty:

BwD Healthy Living can offer residents support with utility debt. Email: info@bwdhl.org.uk. Call: 01254 292650

Care Network’s Safe Trader Scheme and Home Improvement Agency Services provide quality assured services at good prices. The scheme ensures that residents receive the safest services and won’t be overcharged.

Care Network’s Healthy Homes support offers expert knowledge, advice and support to help you to achieve a warm, safe, hazard free and energy efficient home. They also support with fuel switching for eligible residents (aged over 65, those living with more than one long term condition, households with children under 5 yo).

Cosy Homes in Lancashire – CHiL is a partnership of the 15 Local Authorities in Lancashire. They offer residents access to solutions for affordable heating, free first time central heating, gas connections, energy advice and support on a range of money saving energy measures to help you keep warm and save money.

Simple energy advice offers residents energy advice and a sign posting service for money saving energy measures.

United Utilities have lots of support available to help customers who are struggling to pay thier water bill – call or go online to complete the ‘struggling to pay’ form.

You can also call them on: 0800 072 6765