Article: Fuel poverty grants for needy households
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Needy Barnsley households are being urged to apply for a grant from the governments fuel poverty scheme, Warm Front.
The scheme provides grants to make hard-to-heat homes more energy efficient. Grants can be used for heating and insulation improvements by residents on certain income-related benefits, living in poorly insulated properties, or without a working central heating system.
Qualifying households can get improvements worth up to £3,500 (£6,000 where oil central heating and other alternative technologies are recommended).
Typical measures can include heating, boiler replacement, insulation to cavity walls and lofts, draught-proofing and converting solid-fuel open fires to glass-fronted.
Successful grant applicants dont have to pay anything as long as the work doesnt cost more than the grant available. If the work costs more than the grant, the applicant is required to pay the difference.
Applications for Warm Front grants can be made in several ways:
"" visit www.direct.gov.uk and type warm front into the search box.
"" email your contact details to enquiry@carillionplc.com
"" phone 0800 316 2805 (text phone 0800 072 0156).
Completed Warm Front application forms should be posted to Carillion Energy Services, Freepost NEA12054, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1BR.
Warm Front scheme has received a £210 million government funding boost, allowing it to continue until the end of March 2013.
Cllr Tim Cheetham, Cabinet spokesperson for Development, Environment and Culture (Strategy), said: Warm Front improvements support fuel-poor residents in Barnsley to heat their homes affordably. This helps to reduce or prevent the negative health effects of living in cold, damp homes and with fuel prices continuing to rise sharply, any savings will be very welcome for hard-up families.
Nationally, one in four households is thought to be in fuel poverty. In low-income areas like Barnsley that would mean that more than 25,000 families could be affected.