Front line emergency services staff are primed and ready to respond to a new project aimed at identifying and helping vulnerable tenants and home owners living in fuel poverty.
The pilot scheme, “The Home Heating Heroes” project in North Tyneside is based on the fact that sadly, many people only see other people when something goes wrong in their homes.
The project is the creation of the Green North Tyneside Partnership Board and involves staff from thePatient Transport Service, Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service, Safe and Healthy Homes and Warm Zones who have been carrying out training sessions to emergency service team leaders.
Warm Zones Survey Manager, John Leslie believes that the project will highlight those vulnerable customers who are fuel poor and need help to ensure their homes are warm and their health is good.
“We are working in North Tyneside to reduce fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in everyone’s homes. Warmer homes lead to healthier homes and this is a unique project that quite simply will help to save lives and reduce the number of unnecessary winter deaths.
“The project gives Warm Zones an extra pair of eyes and ears into the community and with the help of the emergency services allows us to reach the parts that no other services can reach.”
The three month scheme will be based on the premise that front line emergency services staff will engage on a day to day basis with potential vulnerable tenants and home owners living in circumstances of fuel poverty. The project is funded through the NHS Primary Care Trust and the Green North Tyneside Board, part of the North Tyneside Strategic Partnership.