12 September 2007
Households in England that struggle to pay their heating bills are to be given free advice on fuel poverty thanks to the Smile project.
Supporting More Independent Lives Everywhere (Smile), set up by fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, has been funded by a £50,000 grant from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust.
The scheme aims to give free advice on fuel poverty to those in need, particularly low-income or vulnerable elderly people living in the North East of England, through 40 training sessions for workers in schemes like the SureStart programme.
Representatives from these organisations will then be trained in passing information on support for fuel poverty to affected households.
"Both projects aim to assist vulnerable people in England and in particular, Newcastle, who are fuel poor," Ann Loughrey, ScottishPower's Head of External Business and Community Relations and the Energy People Trust's Company Secretary, explained.
"Fuel poverty now affects more than two million households, so any assistance we can provide through our Energy People Trust is essential today."
Meanwhile, David Connor, Newcastle Warm Zone Director, said: "The project has been a major success so far. In the past year alone, the benefits advisor supported by the Energy People Trust has helped families who are living in or near fuel poverty claim almost half a million pounds worth of benefits they are entitled to."
Households with children under the age of 16 have benefited from £370,000 of additional benefits since the beginning of the scheme, Mr Connor added.
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