npower - Health Through Warmth

Health Through Warmth (HTW) is a scheme to help tackle the issue of fuel poverty, associated cold-related illnesses and excess winter deaths. It facilitates the installation of energy efficiency measures and heating where they are most needed.

The scheme was set up by npower in 2000 in partnership with the NHS and National Energy Action (NEA).  HTW operates through locally based partnerships which seek to help vulnerable people whose health is adversely affected by cold, damp living conditions. This is achieved by facilitating the installation of appropriate energy efficiency and heating measures, along with the provision of related advice and information.

Clients are referred by health and other key community workers who have attended locally based awareness sessions offered by HTW. Vulnerable people are often the least likely to seek assistance but by linking up with existing community workers they can be more easily identified enabling practical help and advice to be provided.

People with cardiovascular and respiratory disease are most likely to be adversely affected by cold and damp living conditions.

Wolverhampton was one of the first HTW areas and to date over 1,000 key workers have been trained resulting in 2,005 referrals being made. This has resulted in over £2.3m being initiated in various grants and funds.

The programme aims to

• Work in partnership to improve the health and living conditions of the more vulnerable people in local communities.

• Identify these people quickly through existing key workers in the local community

• Provide the best possible measures, help and advice appropriate to the household’s needs.

• Provide a crisis fund to finance measures for people who are not eligible for government and other grants.

• Monitor, measure and report progress.

Health Through Warmth has connected those in need with what they need most - warmth - improving their living conditions and therefore their comfort and health. It helps everyone, across all tenures, especially the elderly and disabled who are known to under claim.

The npower Health Through Warmth team has used its facilitation and management skills to create local partnerships. The programme brings together people from NHS, local authorities and voluntary sectors to work collaboratively to help those most in need quickly.

For more information on Health Through Warmth please click here or visit the Council page.

Case Study

Two-year old Jessie lives with her parents, Lorraine and Geoff, and twin brother.  Jessie has cystic fibrosis, resulting in regular hospital visits and a steady stream of intravenous and oral antibiotics. Her condition often leaves her susceptible to chest infections.

Recurring problems with the central heating boiler meant that the family were often left without hot water.

Following a referral from Jessie's cystic fibrosis liaison nurse who was concerned that this was having an adverse effect on treating Jessie's illness, a full assessment resulted in the installation of a brand new boiler.

The new boiler was installed thanks to the financial support of charities Barnardos and William Moulton, with the balance coming from the Health Through Warmth crisis fund.

"Without the help of Health Through Warmth we could still be in a situation where we have no hot water in the family home. We have to be extremely careful with Jessie's condition. It's vital that we keep her strong and in good health so that treatment is effective. Thanks to the help we've received from Health Through Warmth this is no longer an issue for us."