Barnsley’s approach to addressing fuel poverty Jen Macphail Senior Health Improvement Officer (Housing and Energy) Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Key local drivers • Fuel poverty in Barnsley increased from 11.3% in 2015 to 12.2% in 2016. • Desire to improve housing conditions (in particular private sector housing stock) • High levels of excess winter deaths in the Borough • Opportunity to bring investment in to Barnsley (national and local funding) • Local and regional political interest • Council strategic focus- Anti Poverty Delivery Group
Key national guidance • NICE guideline [NG6] Excess winter deaths and illness and the health risks associated with cold homes (2015) • Cutting the cost of keeping warm- A fuel poverty strategy for England (2015) • National Cold Weather Plan (2018) • How to reduce the risk of seasonal excess deaths systematically in vulnerable older people to impact at population level (2010)
Fuel Poverty by LSOA in Barnsley (2016 data)
Excess Winter Deaths by Barnsley Electoral Ward
Relationship between Excess Winter Deaths and Fuel Poverty in Barnsley
Excess Winter Death Reduction Plan • Session held summer 2018 • 70 participants from across the Barnsley and across different sectors • Borough-wide plan completed for 3 years • Presented to Health and Wellbeing Board • Overarching target: reduce EWDs to at least 15% by 2020 • Four key strands: – System wide delivery – Improve cold homes & energy efficiency – Flu vaccination uptake – Falls prevention
Better Homes Barnsley Only Council approved energy efficiency • scheme – covers heating and insulation Part of Better Homes Yorkshire (number of • local authorities across Leeds City Region) Open to homeowners, private tenants and • private landlords Grants for those on low incomes, with health • conditions made worse by the cold and living in least energy efficient homes Carried out work in 491 properties, attracting • funding of £1.15m in to the scheme (since March 2015)
Partnership working and awareness raising • Safe and Well checks pilot with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue • Cold homes pathway with social prescribers • Programme of free fuel poverty training (over 100 front line workers in past 12 months) • Attendance at community events • Awareness raising at team meetings • Social media presence- Facebook and Twitter
Winter Campaign (2017-18) • £500 from NEA and £500 from Engie • High profile launch with Dan Jarvis MP • Social media reach of 120,413; engagement of 2930; and 328 new followers/ page likes. • Coverage in print and online publications to the value of £3991.19, reaching 247,664 people. • Face-to-face advice to an estimated 276 residents • Advice and referrals made to local groups
Coming up…. • Funding bids to support 2018/19 winter campaign (Nov 2018) • Barnsley energy tariff (Nov 2018) • New service to address fuel poverty - single point of access and officers providing home visits (Jan 2019) • Affordable warmth energy efficiency scheme (April 2019) • Joint marketing plan with CCG and key partners building on NHS Help Us Help You Campaign (winter 2018/19) • Fuel bank?? (winter 2018/19)
Jenny Macphail Senior Health Improvement Officer (Housing and Energy) Jennifermacphail@barnsley.gov.uk 01226 787950 Web: https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/housing/help-with-energy-bills/ Facebook: housingandenergybarnsley Twitter: BarnsleyHousing
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