Groundwork’s Energyworks team showcase impact of energy efficiency programmes to Ofgem Chair and Directors

Groundwork’s Energyworks team with Ofgem Chair and Directors

Martin Cave, the chair of Ofgem together with senior directors from Ofgem and the Energy Saving Trust visited Groundwork on Monday 4 February to view some of the recent work carried out by their Energyworks team to improve household energy efficiency within Greater Manchester.

In August 2018 Groundwork secured funding from Ofgem’s Redress scheme to support 520 households in Rochdale, Bury and Tameside with energy advice through 1-2-1 support within their homes, with a further 130 households receiving telephone and/or email support. The focus of the service is to provide bespoke support to local families which is flexible and meets their needs.

During their visit, Mr Cave and senior directors met the Energyworks team and visited local residents in Rochdale who had benefited from the energy improvements interventions and advice; hearing first-hand the difference it had made.

Mr and Mrs Holt live in Rochdale and have recently benefited from the energy efficiency advice; installing a new first time central heating system that could save them hundreds of pounds each year.

Mr and Mrs Holt said: "The Energyworks team were really friendly, helpful and understanding about our 'ignorance' when it comes to boilers, lighting, heating controls and general wellbeing.

“They seemed to go the extra mile, very informative and a pleasure to meet."

The Holt’s also told the group visiting how the measures taken through Energyworks had made a significant impact on their health and wellbeing.

Ofgem chair, Martin Cave said: “I was delighted to be in Oldham and Rochdale to visit local residents who have benefited from the Groundworks scheme, which is one of the first charities to be granted money from Ofgem’s Voluntary Redress Fund.

“I was impressed by Groundwork’s passion to help their local residents with practical solutions to the challenges they face.

“We work closely with the Energy Savings Trust who manage the fund on our behalf and last week awarded £2.1million to a range of charities that make a difference to local communities and particularly consumers in vulnerable circumstances across Great Britain.

“I have enjoyed meeting local residents. Thanks to the Groundwork scheme they will get help keeping their homes warm this winter and cutting their energy bills.”

Suzanne Barningham, Energyworks Manager at Groundworks said: “It was great that Ofgem could see the work we have delivered thanks to their funding.

“There are still a huge number of people living in fuel poverty here in Greater Manchester. We work with housing associations, local authorities and local businesses to continue to make these improvements however as a charity we are dependent on support from the community.”