Free central heating for fuel-poor people in Birmingham

According to Birmingham Council, more than 8,000 homes across the city are without central heating, meaning they are unable to heat their home to the temperature needed to stay healthy and warm.

The Connected for Warmth programme, supported by the council, will install central heating in fuel poor and vulnerable homes for free to reduce bills, increase comfort in non-gas households, and improve health outcomes for residents.

The scheme is run locally by AgilityEco in partnership with Birmingham City Council, installers and housing associations across the Cadent Gas area.

It is free for households and can also provide a free connection to the gas main if required, ensuring that those in need can benefit from affordable heat and hot water.

Cllr Sharon Thompson, cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods at Birmingham City Council, said: ‘Heating is a basic human need that you just don’t expect people in Birmingham to be without.

‘However, that’s the stark reality that thousands of families across our city are facing and it’s our most vulnerable citizens who are being affected.

‘We’re hoping that through Connected for Warmth, as many Birmingham residents as possible can take advantage of this fantastic free service and help to get them out of fuel poverty.’

The scheme, which will be available until 2021, will be working alongside a number of other key initiatives all aimed at addressing fuel poverty and energy efficiency.

Jeremy Nesbitt, managing director of Affordable Warmth Solutions said: ‘This new scheme will provide a fresh avenue out of fuel poverty for those struggling with the cost of heating their homes.

‘As the temperature drops and we enter what’s projected to be a very cold winter the need for this kind of scheme has never been stronger. Connected for Warmth will be a valuable tool in the fight to ensure no one has to face the heart-breaking choice between heating and eating.’

To apply for the Connected for Warmth scheme click here.

The following schemes off support with fuel poverty and energy efficiency in Birmingham.

LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) can provide help and advice with energy switching, free energy-saving measures, money advice and check if you’re eligible for insulation, a new appliance or even a new boiler. Please call LEAP on 0800 060 7567.

ECHO (Emergency Central Heating Offer) is a scheme that offers emergency assistance to fuel poor or vulnerable households to repair or replace broken or condemned boilers.

HEART is an initiative to support fuel poor and vulnerable households through the replacement of old, inefficient fridges, fridge/freezers, washing machines and cookers with modern, efficient alternatives.

Photo Credit – Pixabay