Bringing energy efficiency advice for improving warmth at home to a village in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Gill and Rosie were invited to attend the Christmas Market at Ipstones in the Staffordshire Moorlands on Friday 25th November. This is the 3rd year Beat the Cold have had a stall there. The stall included information about the ‘Warm Homes Discount’ that many energy suppliers are offering to vulnerable customers. It offers £120 discount on your electricity bill each year regardless of the tariff you are on with extra free services to certain customers.
The Christmas M
arket was well attended and Gill and Rosie spoke to lots of people, everyone was given a computer powerdown which powers down computer appliances instead of leaving them on standby thus saving electricity, and a thermometer card with advice on fuel bills and fuel suppliers, and information on local and national grant schemes.
Some of the people Gill and Rosie spoke to had elderly relatives or neighbours that our advice would also apply to. Gill and Rosie emphasized the importance of the thermometer card for elderly and vulnerable people and the temperature where they would be at risk of health problems if there room temperature fell below 20 degrees.
One of the people who spoke to Gill lived in Ipstones and had recently had a stroke. He was using a walking stick and receiving benefits. Gill advised him to ring his energy supplier about the ‘Warm Homes Discount’ since he would qualify for the discount under the broader group criteria.
On the whole the evening was a great success with the people of Ipstones going home better informed about the importance of keeping warm at home and reducing energy costs.