Vision and Aims
Beat the Cold aims to deliver a service that will reduce the ill health, deaths and misery suffered by vulnerable households because of fuel poverty. We aim to be an efficient and flexible organisation, trusted by the people we serve and by our professional partners. We will share our expertise in finding and supporting those households who need help but are ‘hard to reach.’
History
An informal working group
In the mid 1980′s a group of concerned professionals began a multi-agency campaign to tackle hypothermia and cold-related illness. The campaign was administered by Stoke-on-Trent Council for Voluntary Service.
From the outset, the group recognised that those vulnerable to the cold included not only older people, but those with disabilities, young families and those on lower incomes. The Campaign encouraged people to stay healthy and was not only about avoiding death from hypothermia. Each year, they produced a winter advice leaflet. During the winter of 1993/4: over 100 people attended training sessions; hypothermia check list cards were distributed to front line workers; 20,000 copies of a leaflet for the general public were produced; and local media publicised the issues.
In 1995 both the then North Staffordshire Health Authority and NEA (National Energy Action) offered funding to develop the work. The Campaign became a project at Stoke-on-Trent CVS. The Advisory Group that had been responsible for the Campaign continued to meet as an Advisory Forum to guide the work of the project.
The diversity of membership of the Forum was probably unique, including representatives from health, social services, local authorities, voluntary agencies, fuel companies, insulation installers, home improvement agencies and community broadcasting.
Becoming an independent charity
Beat the Cold was advising more and more individual households as well as continuing to run winter campaigns and to co-ordinate wider work in north Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. In 1999, with the full support of Stoke-on-Trent CVS, six trustees formed an independent registered charity.
Today
Beat the Cold aims to reduce the incidence of fuel poverty and cold-related illness in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. It brings together an unusually diverse partnership of local authorities, voluntary and statutory agencies, fuel companies, health and social care agencies and community groups.
We inform, advise and make referrals for households – through telephone advice, events, talks and displays, and a winter leaflet.
We target disadvantaged households that need to spend more than 10% of their income on fuel, helping them to apply for measures and grants to improve energy efficiency and giving advice on using fuel, paying for fuel and services from other agencies.
We also offer advice on renewable technology and feed-in tariffs.
If you or someone you know could benefit from a chat with a Beat the Cold advisor to see if we can save you money on your fuels bills, or help you improve your comfort in your own home, contact us today.
Also, if you would like to support the work we do, please consider making a donation. As little as £1 a month will make all the difference.