Hackney residents ‘energised’ to reduce fuel bills

Published by SanH for Sanctuary Housing Association in Communities and also in Environment

Leading housing provider Sanctuary Housing has teamed up with environmental education organisation ecoACTIVE, to launch a new project tackling fuel poverty in Hackney.

‘Energise’ aims to show residents how they can make their homes more energy efficient and reduce fuel bills.

The project has been made possible thanks to over £10,000 funding from Sanctuary’s Community Initiatives Fund, which invests over half a million pounds each year in community projects and activities.

Delivered by East London-based ecoACTIVE, Energise features a series of fun but practical workshops.  Residents will have the opportunity to review their current energy use, before looking at the steps they can take to cut waste and make changes to help reduce fuel bills in the long term.

An estimated 13% of people in the London region now live in fuel poverty, meaning they spend at least ten per cent of their household income on energy bills.  Marking a rise of 9% over five years, it is more important than ever to make energy-saving changes.   

Simon Clark, Group Director – Housing and Communities, said: "We know that higher energy bills are playing an increasing role in the financial difficulties that residents face on a day-to-day basis.   

“Energise is a simple project that could make a big impact - giving advice and teaching new skills to residents, allowing them to make long-term changes to their habits.  We are delighted to be able to support ecoACTIVE in delivering this programme which will tackle fuel poverty at a grass roots level, and help residents live within their means.” 

Clare Fenley, co-ordinator at ecoACTIVE, added: “Many people are genuinely concerned as to how they will afford to keep their families warm in the winter months.  

“As residents start to think about switching on the heating, we want to show them some simple steps to make their homes more energy efficient and therefore reduce the chance of them slipping into fuel poverty.”

The next Energise workshops will be held at Wentworth Children’s Centre on Monday 17^th October at 1pm, followed by sessions at Morningside Children’s Centre on Tuesday 18^th (10.30am and 1.15pm) Wednesday 19^th (9.30am) and Thursday 20^th October (1pm).  

Further sessions will be scheduled at Kingsmead School, as well as a number of sheltered housing schemes.  

For more information about the project, including further dates and venues, please contact Kath Hayward at ecoACTIVE, on 020 7923 7833 or email katherinehayward@ecoactive.org.uk.