More awards for Inclusion Cornwall!
Cornwall Council and Inclusion Cornwall were nominated by OVO Energy for the South West Energy Efficiency awards, in recognition of the leadership that Public Health and Inclusion Cornwall have given to the Winter Wellbeing fuel poverty work, and continued focus on this before, during and post COVID.
The awards ceremony took place in Exeter on Thursday 26 May, with Cornwall Council and Inclusion Cornwall competing against 2 others in each category.
We are delighted to announce that Cornwall Council won in their category, and Inclusion Cornwall / Bev Wilson were highly commended in theirs.
First up was Regional Local Authority of the Year, with Cornwall Council being declared the winners! The Public Health team, Inclusion Cornwall, and many others were involved, and their hard work has been recognised.
The nomination for this category states that there must be something that sets nominees apart, and demonstrates clear energy savings.
Cornwall Council has carried out energy efficiency work in 1,600 households in the last year, including installing new central heating systems, upgrading boilers, and improving insulation. These were funded using LA ECO Flex, Warm Home Discount Industry Initiative, Green Homes Grant, and COVID Grants.
There has been a total of £30m of investment in warm homes since 2015, including £500k of additional Energy Company Obligation (ECO) from OVO, helping people to live healthier lives.
Since 2014, fuel poverty in Cornwall has gone down from 36,000 households to 29,000 households, although we expect this to rise again with the cost-of-living crisis. This represents 11.5% of households, below the national average of 13%.
Cornwall Council has been operating with a Winter Wellbeing partnership of over 30 members, to identify those who are known to be in poor health, or at risk of ill health with underlying health issues, as well as those that are caring for a vulnerable person or those that are worried about their homes being cold or damp. These indicators lead to a health visit, which is then followed up with grants for heating and insulation, and practical advice on relevant matters, often including debt and health, as well as heating and bills.
“[I’d like to] say a huge thank you for arranging the central heating for mum and chasing up the problem with her lounge ceiling. She still can’t believe she can get up in the middle of the night and be warm. It’s a luxury to her, one which she simply wouldn’t have been able to afford on her income”
Daughter of happy customer
The second nomination was for Bev Wilson and Inclusion Cornwall, in the Vulnerable Customer Support Organisation category. Again nominated by OVO Energy, and up against two others for the main prize, we are delighted that they were awarded Highly Commended. The award is in recognition of Bev’s commitment to supporting people in need.
Bev has been a key player in implementing the award of energy grants to people in fuel poverty, identifying the customers’ qualification criteria and vulnerability requirements, whether for energy efficiency works, debt advice and help, or even just assistance with staying warm through the winter. Bev then identifies the appropriate scheme for them, after which they are filtered into a process which takes them down the correct funding route: Warm homes fund for Heating, GHG LADS for renewable/ low carbon heating, ECO for insulation, and warm homes discount for additional support such as lightbulbs and heated blankets.
Customer F was referred to Community Energy Plus for a new boiler as theirs was close to going boom. They had no savings, and were paying a mortgage on a small private pension and a state pension. They are a delightful pair, who have had a tough time yet still find time to give back by volunteering for the Salvation Army. They excitedly showed the CEP representative their new, more efficient boiler, and explained how grateful they were for the help.
They have never asked for help, and only through ill health and accidents ended up on the radar as requiring support, via the local hospital. With the increase in energy prices, they are delighted with the efficient boiler as it is saving them money already.
Quote from a colleague working through the Winter Wellbeing partnership:
