Calls for heating help during heatwave

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Last month was the hottest and driest July since 2006 – but while much of England and Wales were basking in the sunshine, a local warmth scheme received hundreds of requests from people in need of heating help.

In July,  npower Health Through Warmth, which works with local organisations in Rochdale to install or repair heating and insulation for vulnerable homeowners, took more than 200 referrals and helped fund in excess of £15,500 worth of measures.

Elaine Midwinter, Health Through Warmth scheme manager, comments: “We were surprised by the hundreds of homeowners turning to Health Through Warmth for help during such a hot spell. However, it’s extremely positive that Rochdale’s residents are looking ahead and preparing their homes for the colder weather.

“With August off to the hottest start in seven years, we hope this trend will continue for the remainder of the summer so people are not caught out by the return of cold weather later in the year.”

Health Through Warmth offers help with the funding and installation of heating and insulation measures for vulnerable people. The scheme is available to home owners who have a cold-related illness, a low income with little or no savings and who are unable to fully fund measures, such as a new boiler or heating system. You do not have to be, or become, an npower customer to benefit from the scheme.

Since the scheme was founded in 2000, more than 80,400 vulnerable residents in England and Wales have been referred to Health Through Warmth for aid with heating and insulation. More than £64.7million has been levered to help fund the work required, which includes £1.7million from charitable organisations. In addition, £8.5million has been contributed from the npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.