Seaside towns more likely to benefit from help with winter bills – Home Heat Helpline urges residents to claim
With Britain’s seaside resorts counting the cost of a damp and dreary August, new research from the Home Heat Helpline shows that help is at hand for residents of Britain’s popular seaside towns with nearly a quarter (22%) of all households in UK beach resorts missing out on free home insulation.
Although bustling with tourists in the summer, it appears that once the cold weather sets in the residents of our favourite British holiday locations are all but forgotten. With high seasonal unemployment, ageing and poorly insulated housing stock and a large proportion of elderly residents, the report shows that Britain’s coastal regions are hotspots for residents who could benefit from help in heating their homes this winter.
The ‘Seaside Savings’ research, carried out by independent think tank the New Policy Institute (NPI), found that 64% of local authoritieswith principal seaside towns have a high proportion of vulnerable households who would benefit from insulation grants paid for by their energy companies. The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) is urging these families to act now and take advantage of the free services and advice available which could save them up to £265 on this winter’s energy bills.
The seaside towns of Bournemouth, Minehead and Clacton were found to have the highest level of residents eligible for Home Heat Helpline assistance with nearly a third (31%) of all households entitled to a free home insulation grant. The national league table below features beach resorts across the UK with the highest levels of eligibility for Home Heat Helpline assistance:
- Bournemouth – 32% of households eligible for help
- Minehead – 31%
- Clacton – 30%
- Torbay – 28%
- Conwy – 26%
- Skegness – 26%
- IIfracombe – 26%
- Exmouth – 26%
- Thanet – 26%
- Greater Worthing – 26%
- Bognor Regis – 26%
Christine McGourty, Home Heat Helpline spokesperson says:
“Come winter, the sun definitely doesn’t shine on Britain’s beaches and as the ‘Seaside Savings’ report suggests, many people in these areas may well be struggling unnecessarily to keep their houses warm. We are therefore urging the hundreds of thousands of residents living in Britain’s seaside towns to call the Home Heat Helpline today before the cold weather sets in to find out if they could claim free help. We have trained advisers on hand who can help you get grants for free home insulation, special reduced tariffs as well as advice and support on how to keep warm and save money on your bills.”
The Home Heat Helpline is a free service that advises households on how they can keep warm and save money on their energy bills by making their homes more efficient. Many people are entitled to free help with their fuel bills including anyone aged over 70 and low income households claiming either out-of-work or disability benefits, working tax credit or pension credit. Home Heat Helpline urges them to find out more by calling 0800 33 66 99 or visiting www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact Daisy Swan or Tom Kirkham at Blue Rubicon on 0207 260 2700 or email HHH@bluerubicon.com
Home Heat Helpline ‘Seaside Savings’ research:
The ‘Seaside Savings’ research, undertaken by New Policy Institute (NPI), enables the Home Heat Helpline to see precisely which communities are most likely to gain from the assistance on offer.
The New Policy Institute (NPI) report was commissioned by the Home Heat Helpline to estimate the number of vulnerable households in seaside resorts who could benefit from free CERT home insulation grants.
A full copy of the NPI report is available on request.
About the Home Heat Helpline:
The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) is a free, not for profit phone line set up by Britain’s energy companies to help customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills and keep warm. Customers can also access the service online by visiting www.homeheathelpline.org.uk
The Helpline is managed by the Energy Retail Association and paid for by contributions from Britain’s major energy companies. The service is backed by a range of support organisations including Age UK; Citizens Advice; National Energy Action; Energy Saving Trust; Counsel and Care and Gingerbread.
The Helpline’s trained advisers can provide eligible customers with access to one or more of the following services:
- Free home insulation grants
- Reduced or ‘social’ tariffs
- The Priority Service Register which provides extra services for people who are elderly or disabled including bills in large text or Braille, security passwords and an annual gas safety check
- Flexible payment options for customers in fuel debt
- Benefits entitlement checks
The Energy Retail Association set up the Disconnection Safety Net in 2004 to make sure that no vulnerable customer in Britain is knowingly disconnected from their electricity or gas supply at any time of year.
