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As a business in the heart of the region, our responsibility goes much further than simply delivering a good service for gas customers. It’s about being a positive influence on the communities that we live and work in and delivering long term prosperity throughout the North. That includes supporting the most vulnerable groups and individuals in our society, and providing enduring social and economic value to the people that we serve.
For RIIO-GD2, Ofgem have introduced a Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance. This £60 million fund will be split between all four gas distribution networks between 2021 and 2026, to do much more than keep customers safe and warm.
Our customer base of 2.7 million homes and businesses means we will receive £1 million each year to spend on innovations and initiatives tackling vulnerability and carbon monoxide awareness in our region, with 25% ringfenced for collaborative projects.
We’ll be working with a host of partners, charities and organisations to help us do this, and fully understand the needs of customers in vulnerable circumstances, in order to ensure they are supported in using energy in a safe and efficient way.
Projects must meet strict eligibility criteria in order to qualify, focus on vulnerability and CO safety that go beyond activities currently funded through our regulatory price control mechanisms, or our licence obligations.
All will be tailored to the specific needs of our communities and align with our Vulnerability Strategy, which we created with the support and insight of stakeholders and third sector organisations, to ensure the most effective delivery.
If you have a project that you think we could support, either by ourselves or collaboratively with the other gas networks, please click the button below.
Parsley Box deliver easy to store microwave meals across the UK with a primary customer base of over 65’s and have a high repeat customer base. This project will create and deliver a leaflet to be inserted in Parsley Box deliveries over a 3-month period with a different focus each month ranging from the PSR, to CO awareness and energy efficiency advice. This project covers all of the UK
The project has been extended to the 31st March 2024, plus the provision of additional funding for (a) additional marketing resources and (b) additional personnel within the Strata Nostra team. These changes will assist Strata Nostra in achieving their current project KPI’s The additional costs include the cost of printing and distributing branded pharmacy bags to 1,000 pharmacies (2,000,000 bags) over an 8 week period. There will also be 7,000 GP packs to 6,500 GP surgeries in England, this includes every GP surgery in England.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) can pose a serious threat to human health and even fatality, with around 30 - 40 deaths caused by CO poisoning each year in the UK and 4,000 people treated in hospital as a result of CO poisoning. Lack of awareness of the risks of CO and ways in which to prevent CO harm are major contributing factors to the current number of CO-related deaths and injuries, with safety devices such as CO alarms available as a relatively low-cost item and widely accessible. This project aims to increase levels of carbon monoxide awareness within the university student population by creating a targeted campaign which is entertaining enough to compete for young people’s attention and also incentivises them to engage with CO awareness training in the first place. We will produce coasters which are placed on the tables in the coffee shops which, when viewed through a smart device create augmented reality interactive animations. The animations will show the user the causes, dangers, affects and mitigations of carbon monoxide poisoning. The project will take place within 4 universities, one within each GDN location
At a time, which should be filled with great excitement, can also bring enormous expense and stress to an individual or family. Finding out that you are expecting, if planned or unexpected, can bring a mix of emotions, happiness, excitement, fear, stress, and anxiety. The average cost of a baby in the first month is likely to be in the region of £500, which does not include items such as crib, furniture, a pram, and a car seat. A survey conducted by Child Poverty Action Group revealed that 64% of people were not prepared for the costs involved. By delivering a service in conjunction with the NHS gives an ideal opportunity to gather and give out information. At the expected mothers first appointment, information and consent will be gathered for a direct referral to be made through to Hope 4U using the NHS.net secure system. The overall service aim is to make homes warm, safe. Not everyone will access the Hope 4U service, but it is anticipated that approximately 360 families over the year will initially take up the service. This figure may rise when the project is established by expanding out to further maternity departments. The project will include the essential service of safety with Carbon Monoxide and energy efficiency, keeping warm and well for the baby and the mother. This project covers the geographical area of Airedale and Bradford
At present, two disparate methods are employed by NGN to assess the various impacts of innovation projects on customers. These are (i) the Impact Assessment Tool (IAT) and (ii) Social Return on Investment (SROI). The IAT was developed by Sirio (please refer to Section 6.0 for more information on this project partner) for the use of all energy networks in the UK. It is employed to assess the potential impacts of innovation projects on customers in situations of vulnerability. As a result of answering a set of questions, users have a score generated for the project they are assessing, in addition Following the development of the IAT, NGN wishes to merge it with their SROI framework into a single tool. This will create an ‘all in one’ solution to aid in understanding the impacts of NGN’s projects on their customers. Both tools are currently used separately in the project set-up process at NGN. Merging the two of them will streamline this process, while providing the highest available level of transparency with respect to the impacts of any given project on NGN’s customers. This transparency will aid in guiding the decision process within the company, including whether to implement, scale up or down projects based on the qualitative and quantitative impacts on the customer base. The project covers the geographical area of NGN.
The VCMA allowance is new in GD2, it has been designed to enable the delivery of the gas networks social Business Plan commitments that safeguard vulnerable customers and increases CO awareness in the respective network areas. The VCMA presentation was also used within the annual showcase. The VCMA annual reports and showcase event are a requirement set by Ofgem as part of the VCMA criteria. Using VCMA funding, we have appointed an external design company to produce a final version of both the NGN VCMA annual report and the GDN collaborative VCMA report. The funding will see the annual VCMA reports and showcase presentation designed and ready to present to Ofgem and our stakeholders. To provide a dedicated service in assisting the delivery of the VCMA annual report and the presentations. • Delivering a cohesive portfolio of initiatives built upon the principles of collaboration, inclusion and innovation that deliver the strategic ambitions of NGN and the collective ambitions of the GDN’s • To work closely with the NGN to help review / amend the report content The project covers the geographical area of NGN.
This project will offer information and advice to over 6,000 customers across the region each year through Age UK North Tyneside’s information and advice team who help to maximise income and reduce outgoings, as well as ensuring our customers are living in a safe, healthy environment. The project will be available to all North Tyneside residents over the age of 50 who require help and support with income and the cost of living. This will help to address social isolation and loneliness through referrals into the wellbeing centres and social activity events. The project aims to see 250 customers (minimum) per month, where they take the opportunity to have guided conversations to establish their needs and offer help and support to get customers over the poverty line, live healthy lives, in a safe and warm home. Age UK North Tyneside aim to re-claim over £1 million in unclaimed benefits for their customers. They will ensure customers come out of hospital into a safe, warm home, so they do not return to a hospital bed, reducing the demand on the NHS. Age UK North Tyneside will signpost and refer into organisations that they partner with to assist customers to get what they need, such as home adaptions and improvements to provide a better quality of life. The project covers the geographical area of North Tyneside.
The Cadent and NGN Collaborative One Number Programme 2023 - 2025 project builds on a company specific pilot delivered on Cadent's networks between April 2021 and December 2022. This collaborative project uses the same model and learning from the Cadent pilot to deliver support to customers in vulnerable situations living in the Eastern, North London, North West, West Midlands, and NGN networks. The project will commence in January 2023 and will run for a period of two years until January 2025. The collaborative project will be delivered by two providers - Groundwork UK (Groundwork) and National Energy Action (NEA). The two providers will operate a network split model, with Groundwork delivering the service to North West, West Midlands, and NGN customers, whilst NEA will provide support to Eastern and North London customers. Customers' needs and eligibility will first be assessed by Groundwork and NEA, before the customer is triaged and then provided with the following services (based on customer need and eligibility): • In-home energy efficiency advice (e.g. supporting customers to tackle condensation/damp and use their appliances more efficiently etc.) • Assisting customers to access industry funding (e.g. Warm Homes Discount and Energy Company Obligation) • Helping customers to maximise their household income (e.g. benefit entitlement checks, claims support, and the management/clearing of energy debt) • Servicing of essential gas appliances • Repair/replacement of essential gas appliances and pipework
There is a nationwide agenda to tackle the problems associated with children that care for their elderly parents (Carents) that need support. Ageing and caring in the UK can often be isolating and challenging, compounded by a lack of recognition and a shortage of suitable information, services, products, and experiences which could make life easier for busy Carents and their ageing parents. “The Carents Room” project aims to reach 1 million potential Carents in the UK, this ambition agreed between Cadent and NGN in October 2021. There are currently an estimated 5 million Carents nationally. They are the largest group of unpaid carers and growing rapidly in the face of our ageing population and due to the pandemic. The Carents Room will be in the form of an interactive, online website for Carents to access anywhere in the UK and receive instant online support. The project will involve creating a sustainable Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, which will enable the website to grow and evolve once the project has ended. This is a collaborative project with NGN and Cadent.
This winter there will be problems with heating and eating due to the currently energy and cost of living crisis. Through this project Community Action Northumberland (CAN) will deliver training sessions on how best to heat your home using energy saving measures and eating on a budget. This will be done by using the versatility, healthy low cost benefits of a slow cooker. CAN will deliver 12 Heat AND Eat sessions across the county to statutory and third sector organisations, to volunteers and paid staff. They will be highlighting the benefits of the additional support available via PSR and the dangers of CO poisoning linked to keeping warm and trying to save money by not having appliances serviced or chimneys swept. This project will take place in the geographical area of Northumberland.
Warm hubs have been developed in Northumberland for 7 years, originally as a pilot funded by NGN for setting up 10 hubs, over the years this has been extended to 30. In order to protect the integrity of the scheme a warm hub toolkit has been developed which will give access to the scheme across the country. The role of warm hubs roll-out co-ordinator will see to the smooth running of the scheme whilst being delivered nationwide.
This expansion project has been designed, developed and delivered by disabled people, who are representative of project beneficiaries (including foodbank users) in conjunction with the Trussell Trust’s Leeds North and West Foodbank. DIAL Leeds are a Disabled People’s User Led Organisation (DPULO) providing empowering peer support for disabled people in a safe and positive environment, both remotely and face to face. This project will enable DIAL to provide personally tailored customer support and casework, based on individual needs, to resolve any energy related problems and in particular, for those living in fuel poverty. This project will support people with physical and sensory impairments, learning disabilities and / or long-term conditions including mental health issues, to confidently work through their issues and concerns on a one to one basis. This project is based in Leeds
This project will form a partnership between Groundwork Yorkshire’s Green Doctor service & Aware Technologies to target an estimated 400,000 social homes in the West Yorkshire region. This collaboration will bring together fuel poverty, income maximisation, and energy efficiency support, along with the measurement of the improvements in the housing, health and wellbeing of 1100 residents. CO safety will also be addressed through this project. The project will be based in the West Yorkshire region and will last for a period of 15 months (2 winters). The issues being addressed by this project include: • Fuel Poverty reduction • Financial hardship/debt reduction and income maximisation • Mental Health and Wellbeing improvement • Respiratory Health improvement • Energy efficiency improvement in homes • A ‘just transition’ to net zero • Mould and Damp reduction
This project will form a partnership between Groundwork Yorkshire’s Green Doctor service & Noah’s Ark. This collaboration will bring together fuel poverty support, income maximisation, mental health support & training. The scope of this project is to deliver 200 Green Doctor fuel poverty interventions & for Noah’s Ark to provide their services for 200 clients. This service will be available to residents across the Calderdale region.
Middlesbrough Environment City aims to work alongside Yorkshire Energy Doctor to embed knowledge and information around energy advice, the Priority Services Register (PSR), CO, and other sources of support, into the consciousness of all family support services and their communications. This is with the ultimate aim of helping families to better manage their bills and to be safe, warm and well. The overall aim of the project is to help families to be more able to afford to heat their homes and to be safe, warm and well. The project will cover Redcar and Cleveland and be run as a sub-project of Yorkshire Energy Doctor’s ‘Warm Homes Healthy Children’. They will use consistent branding and resources, but this new proposal will focus on direct interactions with families. Any learning will be shared with Yorkshire Energy Doctor.
Income maximisation through welfare benefits is often the most effective, long lasting, and secure way of increasing household budgets, particularly for vulnerable people or people who cannot work due to poor health or disability Stockton & District Advice & Information Service (SDAIS) propose to tackle this problem by providing a specialist energy and welfare benefit advice and support service that complements and supplements current energy advice services delivered by multiple agencies and VCMA projects across the North of England and Yorkshire. The service will provide specialist welfare benefit advice to a minimum of 308 households per year
Warm Hubs’ are places within the local community where people can be assured of finding a safe, warm and friendly environment in which to enjoy refreshments, social activity, Energy information and advice and the company of other people. Where volunteers are trained, and buildings are energy efficient and sustainable. The Warm Hub model has three guiding principles i.e. the aim of the model is to: • Support community buildings • Support volunteers • Support hard to reach customers and / or those who may be living in vulnerable situations This project will allow CAN to open 5 new Warm Hubs’ to support vulnerable customers within Northumberland.
Through this project we aim to empower frontline workers from third sector organisations, Fire and Rescue Services, local authorities, Occupational Therapists, private home care and other support services, to identify potential CO risks and provide CO safety information to vulnerable households they support. Helping to increase CO awareness and reduce the risk of CO harm for some of the most at-risk vulnerable customers throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. Our aim is to provide an enduring, convenient, easy-to-access, up-to-date, and simple to use resource, that will provide CO safety information and advice. The Gas Safe Charity will develop a dedicated Think CO App that provides a quick and easy reminder of the sources, signs and symptoms of CO and immediate advice on steps to take if symptoms of CO poisoning or signs of CO exist or are suspected during a home visit. Critically, this App would be in situ, available in real time as the frontline workers are supporting someone vulnerable in their home.
In 2019 Scope launched their community research panel, which has grown to around 1,600 active members today with direct lived experience of being disabled and/or as parents of disabled children. Working closely with Scope we have co-designed a mixed method three-stage disabled community CO research programme utilising the Scope research panel to ensure we gain robust data and insight that can be used to inform future projects, partnerships, and campaigns. Scope will aim to recruit panel members across England, Scotland and Wales to take part in the research.
This project brings together the UK’s leading older people’s charities – Age Cymru, Age Scotland and Age UK – to support people in vulnerable situations by providing energy safeguarding services to older people who are in or at risk of fuel poverty. The collaborative partnership will look to ensure that older people are aware of and are assisted to access the Priority Services Register and support services that help increase household income including benefits checks and provide advice on how to increase household energy efficiency and increase awareness on the signs, symptoms and mitigations of carbon monoxide harm. The programmes will be delivered via regional model and learnings between the partners will be shared openly recognising that the three partners will need to co-ordinate within regional support frameworks – all working to a common outcome to help older people maintain a safe and warm home.
The aim of the project is to reach young people, aged 16 – 25 with CO awareness messaging, through the proven route of the Game Over creative campaign, piloted by Wales & West Utilities and run by Heavenly Media. At the same time the project is focusing on maintaining the longevity of the digital media campaign through activation of the successful Student Ambassador campaign aimed at the same age group, piloted by SGN and run by Campus Group. Heavenly and Campus Group will work together to ensure we deliver a coherent campaign in content, look and feel throughout. The Game Over campaign work will be integrated and complementary to student brand ambassador and other on-campus work. The work will involve 2 brand ambassadors in each of 16 Universities with a geographical spread across England, Scotland & Wales, aligned to GDN network coverage. Heavenly will develop the mini-standalone website that can be linked to GDN’s existing websites, to drive young people to for further information, following their engagement via the Game Over digital campaign and student ambassador activities.
There is a nationwide agenda to tackle the problems associated with fuel poverty, but rural isolation presents a significant barrier to reaching many of those most in need. A Warm Hub Toolkit will be created, which can be used by any organisation, including a Gas Distribution Network (GDN) or Distribution Network Operator (DNO), to ensure that a consistent model, with appropriate rules and governance (to ensure compliance to the model), can be adopted for any locality. The toolkit will ensure that the key principles and building blocks of a Warm Hub are adhered to, in terms of compliance to standards, policies and procedures. The project covers all the NGN network area.
The colder months of winter represent added risk and challenge for many customers living in vulnerable situations. An increase in the demand for energy not only increases the cost of energy bills, but also increases the risk of issues being identified with household gas supplies and appliances and increases the risk of incidents relating to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The winter awareness campaign will focus on both these issues, increasing customer knowledge of how to register for the PSR, recognising the symptoms of CO poisoning and the steps and actions they can take to protect themselves from the potential harm of CO. Additionally, we will use the awareness campaign to raise awareness of the National Gas Emergency helpline so that customers are aware of what number to call if they suspect CO. This is a National project, across all GDN footprints
Disabled people are more likely to face financial vulnerability, fuel poverty, and increased energy costs. They also experience greater challenges in accessing information and support in a way that works for the disabled community. Low-income households spend a substantial share of their income on utility services such as electricity, heating, and water. This is particularly disproportionate in the case of many disabled people, as they consume more energy and water based upon need. Disabled people have less household income and face two times the average unemployment rates, resulting in poverty being 6% higher in the disabled community. The partnership looks to provide a bespoke and dedicated utility advocacy service for disabled people, designed for and marketed to disabled people to let them know that there is help available to support them with their utility and energy needs. This is a nationwide project.
In the UK, many people using carbon / fossil-fuelled appliances are not aware of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and do not have a working audible CO alarm. NGN commissioned research around CO and the PSR in January 2021. Many of our customers living in vulnerable situations are unable to afford to purchase CO alarms and are often struggling to pay for the basics such as food and affordable warmth, for themselves and their families. This is further impacted due to the current energy and cost of living crises. As a result, these households may also resort to potentially hazardous coping mechanisms, all of which can be detrimental to health and wellbeing. Using VCMA funding, we can purchase a large number of CO alarms, which we will distribute to customers who would otherwise not be able to afford to purchase and install one in their homes. We will send a CO alarm, free of charge, to vulnerable customers who do not have a CO alarm and will also provide our community and charity partners with CO alarms to distribute to their vulnerable customers. These grassroot organisations are the trusted intermediaries who engage with hard-to-reach communities on a daily basis. This project will take place within NGN geographical area.
This role is vital to support the continuity of making every contact count (MECC) when NGN personnel interact with a customer. This service is required when a First Call Operative from NGN, disconnects an appliance / isolates a gas supply to a customer’s home when they have been identified as living in vulnerable circumstances. The FCO will signpost the customer to the relevant third party for additional support / appliance repair / replace. A follow up process will then be invoked whereby the admin assistant will contact the customer to close the loop. This follow-up call will be made to ensure the customers understands / has the relevant information to hand about next steps required and whether they require any additional support after their discussion with the engineer and to identify they fully understand any further action that may be required. The admin assistant will also make an attempt to contact family members if the customer does not understand or the customers support worker where relevant. The role covers all of NGN’s geographical area.
Young people are one of the most at risk groups from CO poisoning and one of the least aware about the dangers of CO. Young people are challenging to engage with outside of educational settings and when armed with knowledge can be key to sharing information on how they can keep themselves and their loved one’s CO safe. Bonanza Creative will expand delivery of both the Safety Seymour (KS1) and CO Crew (KS2) educational programmes, delivering in-depth classroom-based sessions in NGN, SGN and WWU network areas. Through these in-depth classroom-based sessions each young person taking part will be educated on what CO is, where it comes from, the dangers of CO, and how to stay safe. Each young person will receive a CO information leaflet, a Safety Seymour leaflet for KS1 and a CO Crew leaflet for KS2. These will help the young people to take the learning home with them and share with their household, expanding the reach of the learning and awareness. As well as the Safety Seymour and CO Crew classroom-based sessions Bonanza Creative will be delivering assembly sessions with KS1 and KS2 age groups in schools. This project operates across the NGN, SGN and WWU networks.
During 2021 it was estimated that three million English households were living in fuel poverty (Dept for Business, Energy and Business Strategy). It is clear that many young people do not have the essential information, resources or support networks in place to avoid poverty, including fuel poverty. The significant cost of living increases has already started to make an impact on families. Highlighting the importance of small changes to young people means that they will continue through their lives with good energy habits – checking gas cookers are off, switching off lights when not in a room, keeping doors closed to keep the heat in. Simple measures that young children adopt and continue in their lives. Through partnership we can leverage this expertise to deliver material to primary age young people as part of their financial education programme from MyBnk. With a dedicated module specifically focused on energy safety, usage and efficiency a long term and successful partnership with tangible outcomes can be achieved. This project will also engage the dangers of CO and flag key support services including the Priority Services Register (PSR). This project covers the geographical area of England, Scotland and Wales.
Delivered in partnership with Citizens Advice, and co-funded by the four UK Gas Distribution Networks, this project aims to support vulnerable households with a single point of contact for independent and bespoke support to keep a safe and warm home for less. Working through Citizens Advice’s network of local Energy Advice Partnership Hubs, with the potential to access the full Citizens Advice network where required. Through this partnership the Citizens Advice local Energy Advice Programme teams will work to directly support 17,500 vulnerable people with access to practical advice on the dangers of CO and how to mitigate these, as well as energy advice that improves their financial independence, their health and wellbeing, and increases their confidence to manage their household utility costs.
Gas distribution networks Cadent, Northern Gas Networks, SGN and Wales and West Utilities have committed to providing the charity with a combined £500,000 fund over two years to support households in a fuel crisis. The money will be used to provide same day emergency financial support to people struggling to top-up their prepayment gas and/or electricity meters. Fuel Bank Foundation will also provide additional ongoing support to help manage energy costs, working together to support families out of crisis. Fuel Bank Foundation has already provided support to approaching 500,000 people who have been referred by local councils and food banks, advice agencies and charities such as Macmillan and Scope.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) can pose a serious threat to human health and even fatality, with around 40 deaths caused by CO poisoning each year in the UK and 4,000 people treated in hospital. Lack of awareness about the dangers of and ways in which to prevent harm from CO are a major contributing factor to why we’re still seeing CO related deaths and harm in a time when safety devices such as CO alarms are cheaper and more accessible than ever. Young people are one of the most at risk and least aware groups. The Scouts has approximately 360,000 young members and 140,000 adult volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales, and this collaborative GDN project aims to educate about the dangers of CO through a programme of activities developed for all Scout age ranges. Working in partnership with the Scouts dedicated programme content curators we will develop a programme of branded educational activities focusing on raising awareness of CO poisoning, and how to manage and reduce the risks. These activities will contribute to a different badge within Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers to ensure high engagement.
A dedicated role is required to support the general project coordination, management and administration of Vulnerability & Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) funded projects. The role will support projects covering all types of vulnerabilities and will involve working with partners such as charities, community groups and those working at grass roots level, who deal with hard-to-reach communities, to ensure that projects and budgets are managed from initial concept to completion. The benefits realised by working closely with partners, will include demonstrating good practice in areas such as supporting the delivery of affordable warmth solutions for low income households and customers living in vulnerable situations. Energy efficiency and fuel poverty support, financial support, raising awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) and Priority Services Register (PSR) will all be themes that run through this support role. The role will also include responsibility for reporting in line with the VCMA governance document and associated requirements. There is a requirement for a dedicated, single point of contact to work closely with all project partners and other GDN’s for collaborative VCMA projects. The role covers all of NGN’s geographical area.
Although guidance exists for addressing CO in pregnancy caused by smoking, there is no official protocol for investigating elevated CO amongst pregnant women caused by other means. This problem is compounded by midwives’ own concerns that they and their colleagues are not adequately trained to address non-smoking causes of elevated CO in pregnancy. This project aims to bring together information on expired CO levels in women recruited into the study, with information collected on exposure in their home. Recruitment into the study will trigger a Home Safety Visit with an additional aspect on CO, conducted by the local Fire and Rescue Service, and a two-week period of CO monitoring using a CO alarm, data loggers and CO breathalysers in the participant’s home. Recruitment and testing will take place during autumn and winter when potential exposure is greatest. By monitoring indoor CO levels, the scale of the problem due to elements within the home will be identified. To date, no study to assess environmental exposure of pregnant women to CO has been undertaken in the UK. Projects will take place within one NHS locality in England for each GDN.
The role is being funded to make Northern Gas Networks (NGN) staff, partners and customers aware of the wide-ranging vulnerabilities that exist within our network. The role will include supporting internal colleagues and training external stakeholders and partners in all areas relating to vulnerability. This includes training internal colleagues and partners on carbon monoxide (CO) and vulnerability awareness, fuel poverty, energy efficiency, Priority Services Register (PSR) and promoting the locking cooker valve service. NGN is currently developing a Customer Vulnerability & Competency Framework (CVCF), the main aim of which, is to train all NGN staff on identifying vulnerability, providing them with the ability taking action to support customers, or refer on to a third party, when required. The role will ensure training is delivered by an internal NGN resource, rather than outsourcing.
The project is aimed at tackling rural vulnerability in school children by delivering one-on-one reading sessions to children in care*(CIC) in schools. The sessions will be delivered via an NGN HEY CU reading van coordinators can take to rural schools, with carbon monoxide (CO) safety messages an integral part of the sessions.
Covid 19 and lockdown have shifted visitor patterns to the Lake District National Park and Cumbria. There has been a significant number of new users attending the park who may not be aware of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning and the Countryside Code. This project aims to deliver clear and effective messaging about the risks of CO poisoning when cooking in confined spaces (tents, caravans and campervans), and how to minimise environmental impact on the region when visiting.
The town of Keighley near Bradford has high levels of long-term unemployment, and high numbers of residents living in fuel poverty. Highfield Co-op aims to create a pop-up energy café, where members of the community can attend and which will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of fuel poverty, provide energy advice and raise awareness of CO to vulnerable people.
Access to many individual case work services are becoming increasingly difficult and this has been compounded by the pandemic. Especially for those living with physical disadvantage, who may also be shielding. The project objectives are to increase confidence, self-esteem and resilience which in turn, will lead to increased physical and mental health and wellbeing. Overall, the aim is to empower people to prepare for emergency situations that could help to save lives. An integral part of the programme will be to incorporate PSR awareness raising and sign-up. DIAL will be working closely with Trussell Trust foodbanks across Leeds. They will also be involving Green Doctors, Care and Repair (Home Improvement Agency), Fire and Rescue, Adult Social Care, Health and Housing and Leeds Public Health.
This project aims to promote the concept that use of energy in the home should be viewed just like the use of a car – it needs a comprehensive check every year, to make sure everything is working efficiently and safely. Stockton and District Advice and Information Service will be working with Northallerton Citizens Advice on the project, an integral part of which will be to incorporate CO safety messages and make PSR referrals. This project will support NGN’s Vulnerability Strategy by aligning with the rurality and financial hardship themes.
This project is aiming to tackle fuel poverty, energy vulnerability and related issues. The Green Doctor’s role is to install small energy efficiency measures, complete PSR referrals, raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and the need to have both regular appliance safety checks and install CO alarms. The project is taking place in Yorkshire, Tees Valley, Newcastle and Gateshead.
Taking place across the NGN network, the digital course is focused on tackling the lack of knowledge around fuel poverty, through awareness training provided for frontline key workers and trusted partners, to help deliver the key messages associated with this. An integral part of the programme will be to incorporate CO safety messages into the training sessions.
Based in Leeds and Bradford, this project is focused on tackling the issues of climate change and high energy costs, with a view to reaching net zero, through better energy management. GEMS provides an energy management service to community/charitable organisations who are based in buildings that have poor thermal energy efficiency, high running costs and would benefit from support and advice on how to reduce their costs. Some of the buildings supported, link into food banks thereby helping those in need. The overall aim is to implement an energy management system for future sustainability. An integral part of the programme will be to provide CO awareness sessions and to reduce CO emissions. As vulnerable people visit these buildings, it is important that they are fit for purpose, so they experience thermal comfort when receiving advice and information.
Certain vulnerable communities within the Bradford district may not be aware of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning, such as refugees, low income families, and BAME communities. Highfield Co-op aim to work closely with these communities to raise awareness of CO poisoning, including the signs and symptoms, and provide advice around energy saving and efficiency. The project will use workshops and community events, as the mediums to access these hard to reach groups.
The project, being delivered digitally across our network region, aims to support vulnerable residents by using trusted social networks within communities, to cascade information and to enable local action to apply for funding/grants and fuel switching, as well as being given safety information around the dangers of CO. An integral part of the programme will be to provide CO awareness sessions’ to frontline staff.
Over 26,000 households in North Yorkshire are in fuel poverty, where people are struggling to keep warm at an affordable cost. 11.7% of these fuel poor households include someone who has a long-term health condition or disability, which can be made worse by living in a cold home. The project will involve working with health professionals to reduce the number of individuals with a long-term health condition, who are living in fuel poverty in North Yorkshire. An integral part will involve providing training to NHS staff, who can then deliver advice to patients on reducing the risks of carbon monoxide, dealing with damp and condensation and PSR information.
At the point when young people start living independently, no teaching nor education currently exists around how to use energy efficiently and safely in the home. The overall aim of this project is to engage with young people within North Yorkshire aged 16-25, to improve their knowledge and understanding of energy use, energy bills and CO safety. The engagement will be through a steering group made up of key organisations and will involve the development of a toolkit, that staff from the organisations can use to educate young people. The organisations involved will include, care leaver groups, the voluntary sector, social housing providers and youth charities.
Bradford has one of the highest rates of visual impairment within the NGN network. Highfield Co-op aims to work closely with this vulnerable group to raise awareness of fuel poverty and CO poisoning. Working in partnership with Sight Airedale, who support around 500 local people with visual impairments, they will use resources such as braille and audio to convey key messages.
Highfield Co-op aim to create a community energy matters magazine, to share key information to communities, about CO awareness and information on energy-related issues including fuel poverty. The target audience is vulnerable people within Bradford and Keighley. The project will support customers via online and printed resources.
Highfield Co-op want to get young people within Bradford District interested in STEM-related careers. The aim of this project is to inspire communities, be creative and organise STEM events in local community settings. Females from low income and ethnic minority backgrounds are part of the target audience, with the ultimate aim to secure jobs in STEM roles.
This project is aimed at members of the Bradford district community living with mental health challenges who may struggle to understand fuel poverty and the dangers of CO. Highfield Co-op will show films at several venues to help support the group in understanding the dangers of CO and in accessing information around energy saving tips and ideas. The content of the films will include CO messages and energy advice.
There are vulnerable communities within the Bradford district who may not be aware of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and the efficient use of fuel and energy in the home. These include refugees, low income families, elderly, BAME communities and people living with addictions. Highfield Co-op aims to work closely with these groups by running a film festival in Bradford, to attract those who are hard to reach and lack knowledge around key safety and energy information. The films will be produced in conjunction with UNESCO Bradford City of Film.
The GP Partnering Pilot will be a significant step forward in making direct contact with households at risk of cold-related ill health and CO poisoning. The project will target GP patients with COPD or asthma through 30 GP practices within County Durham. Partnering with Clinical Commissioning Group GP practices allows the council’s Warm Homes Team to make direct contact with vulnerable patients, as well as provide advice around fuel poverty and associated issues.
The pilot allows the council’s Warm Homes Team to make direct contact with vulnerable customers, to raise awareness of fuel poverty and help reduce the risks of CO poisoning. DCC have engaged the BRE to develop a countywide Housing Stock Condition Model (HSCM). The data will be used to target local communities within County Durham, with vulnerable and low-income households for assistance with grants and services, to upgrade homes to a satisfactory heating standard.
Rurality and associated isolation can make those living in fuel poverty even more vulnerable. The Rural Food Kitchen project seeks to overcome this barrier. This project has delivered ‘Grow Your Own’ packs to vulnerable and isolated people, and CAN wish to expand the initiative to more households to support healthy eating, through home cooking and delivery of prepared meals. The kitchens will be based at six of CAN’s existing Warm Hubs run by local volunteers. Information on the PSR and CO poisoning will also be provided. CAN will be working alongside Northumberland food banks, to deliver some aspects of this project.
Community Action Northumberland (CAN) has a long history of working with rural communities and has a strong network of links, including existing foodbanks. CAN are currently working with two food banks, providing slow cooker recipe cards along with the food needed to cook the recipe and the slow cooker. CAN would like to extend this support to four other food banks in rural Northumberland, as well as an unemployment hub. Promotion of CO awareness and access to the PSR, will also be undertaken at each foodbank and unemployment hub. CAN will be working alongside Northumberland food banks and local unemployment hubs to deliver this project.
Although NGN is in constant communication with customers via a range of different channels, we know some of our audience remain hard to reach, in particular those customers living in vulnerable situations. This proportion of our customer base includes the young, older people, those with health conditions, those on low incomes and non-English speaking communities. In addition, it is a challenge for those living in rural isolation to have access to many services, including access to the internet and other essential services. Harvey & Hugo, an integrated communications agency specialising in PR and strategic campaigns, will be appointed to deliver this campaign and address this challenge. This project covers the whole NGN network.
Building on CAN’s slow cooker and Warm Hubs work, this project will involve spending six weeks of summer 2021 (end July and August), attending rurally isolated settlements in Northumberland, to demonstrate the benefits of using a slow cooker. Associated messaging at the events will focus on energy support (energy efficiency hints and tips), carbon monoxide (CO) awareness and an expansion on the diversity and efficiency of the use of slow cookers. Specifically targeting rurally isolated areas, where there may also be an increase in tourists over the summer holidays, will also assist in conveying key energy and gas safety messages. CAN will be working alongside parish Councils and Northumberland village hall consortiums to deliver some aspects of this project.
The cost of living crisis is driving a nationwide agenda to tackle the problems associated with fuel poverty. The project will support low-income families in North and East Yorkshire with the ultimate aim of helping them to better manage their energy bills and to stay safe, warm and well. This project will aim to do this by educating family support services and embedding knowledge and information around energy advice, the Priority Services Register (PSR), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and other sources of support so that they can provide assistance to those who need it most to make their energy bills more manageable and affordable.
At the point when young people start living independently, no teaching or education currently exists around how to use energy efficiently and safely in the home. The overall aim of this project is to engage with young people aged 16 – 25, who have responsibility for paying gas and electricity bills in their home for the first time, to improve their knowledge and understanding of energy use, energy bills and Carbon Monoxide (CO) safety. The project will educate about energy use and ways to reduce their costs and stay safe while inspiring them to get involved in awareness-raising campaigns themselves. The project will take place in the North East and will be focused on customers living in Gateshead, Newcastle and Sunderland.
Anyone can experience fuel poverty, but among the groups most vulnerable to the damaging consequence of living in cold housing are older people, those with chronic illnesses or long-term conditions, and people with low or declining incomes. Many people who are terminally ill fall into several, if not all, of these categories. Marie Curie’s Registered Nurses and Health Care Assistants (HCAs) can be the key to identifying households in need to support. Each year our nurses and HCAs visit between 30,000-45,000 households with terminally ill people in. Delivered in partnership with Marie Curie, and co-funded by the four UK Gas Distribution Networks (GDN’s), aims to identify and support terminally ill people and their families that are suffering from fuel poverty with dedicated support and advice. This project operates across all the GDN networks and aligns to our collective GDN strategic ambition to support vulnerable customers most in need of help to maintain a safe and warm home and to access key services designed to meet their needs including the Priority Services Register.
