L-R: Councillor Aaron Shotton Leader of Flintshire County Council, Councillor Bernie Attridge Deputy Leader of Flintshire County Council, Leanna Jones and Steven Reynolds, Flintshire Home Energy Conservation Officers and Bill Evans from NWEAC
Flintshire County Council has launched a ground breaking scheme to help vulnerable residents stay warm this winter.
The Flintshire Affordable Warmth Scheme is a new crisis fund set up for people who can’t afford to heat their homes and need immediate support. This is the first time the Council has taken steps to help residents on this scale. The scheme was introduced at a drop-in event held at Holywell Connects, High Street in Holywell on Wednesday 11 December.
The initiative, which is a partnership including a range of third sector organisations working in Flintshire, works in conjunction with existing schemes acting as a safety net so that if people fail to qualify for whatever reason yet have a genuine need, they can still get help.
Estimates show that 30% of homes in Wales are in fuel poverty – needing to spend 10% of their income to heat the home adequately.
Councillor Helen Brown, Cabinet Member for Housing said:
For more information, call the Freephone energy advice line 0800 954 0658.
A helpline called the Practical Assistance Line (PAL) has also been set up by the British Red Cross and Flintshire Local Voluntary Council for residents in crisis who need support but don’t know where to turn for advice or help. People will be signposted to the appropriate organisations for home repairs, heating breakdown solutions, snow clearing, shopping, collecting prescriptions and offering practical help and advice. Residents can contact the PAL helpline by calling 01352 762898.
