‘Warm Homes’ initiative

A ‘WARM HOMES’ service is helping vulnerable people across the county to save hundreds of pounds on their fuel bills.

Living in a cold home can affect people’s health and well-being and Leicestershire County Council is offering advice through Warm Homes, part of the council’s First Contact Plus advice and information hub.

This means that, for residents such as Richard from the Charnwood area of Leicestershire, worries about not being able to afford to heat their home can become a thing of the past.

Warm Homes Officer Alex Clark visited the 61-year-old in his home and Richard was shown how to reset heating and hot water controls and was provided with some easy-to-follow instructions.

He was also helped in updating his energy supplier to ensure he was on the most affordable tariff and said: “My bills were spiralling and I wasn’t sure what was causing this. I realised I was paying far more than my neighbours for energy and I needed help in solving the problem.

“I’ve switched tariff and my energy bills have reduced by over £24 a month. The service gave me a voice that I didn’t have and pointed me in the right direction, plus it was useful have someone knowledgeable to clarify the jargon. I would definitely encourage others to take advantage of the Warm Homes service.”

Other advice which can also be offered includes:

• Understanding boiler and heating controls; • Debt relief support; To find out more, contact the service by calling 0116 305 4286 or visiting www. firstcontactplus.org.uk