The Council has been given Government funding of £254,000, by the Department of Health, to develop and implement a co-ordinated approach to fuel poverty and emergency responses in cold weather. This is a partnership project working with the district and borough councils, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector.
It will help to support vulnerable people, including families, the elderly and those living in rural areas. The funding followed a successful Council bid last year. Work has begun putting the project in place and developing a long-term strategy.
Some of the aims which will be explored, include:
- developing a vulnerable persons list
- ensuring emergency responses are triggered by the national Cold Weather Alert Service
- a single point of access for energy advice
- building the capacity of front-line staff and communities to identify those at risk of fuel poverty.
Project Officers will work both in and outside normal office hours to deal with fuel poverty issues and emergencies.
Cllr Keith Glazier, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member for Public Health, welcomed the new funding and said: “This is fantastic news for the people of East Sussex. Keeping warm in winter and remaining healthy go hand-in-hand and it is often the most vulnerable in our community that suffer the most.
“By having a co-ordinated and planned approach we can prevent unnecessary deaths and illness by more targeted help, advice and support to the people who really need it”.
Further information on keeping warm in winter can be found on our page Grants towards heating, insulation and energy efficiency.
East Sussex County Council, the local NHS and the district and borough councils work together to ensure health protection and health improvement for the people of East Sussex.
More general information about the funding can be found on the Department of Health website.
Reference:
3466
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East Sussex County Council