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Warming to the task: Ending fuel poverty NEA Annual Review 2004-2005 // page two // NEA Annual Review 2004-2005 Getting our message heard During the last year we have all received unwelcome news from our energy supplier about price increases, some of us more than once. After years of Contents continuing reductions in our fuel bills this is an unfamiliar experience. Whereas for many it may have been mildly irritating, So too are changes to the scheme which reflect for the poorest households it has much more severe proposals put forward by NEA on many occasions in 02 Chairman’s Foreword consequences. Estimates that a 1% rise in fuel costs recent years, notably the provision of central heating increases the numbers in fuel poverty by some 40,000 to all eligible households, allowing those who have 04 Chief Executive’s Foreword are alarming given the scale of recent increases and previously received assistance to apply for additional 06 Operations the threat of more to come. This has rudely interrupted measures and the increase in the maximum grant. the steady progress towards ensuring that every On occasions no change is equally welcome, hence 08 Communications household can afford to heat and light their homes it is reassuring that our arguments against restricting to the standard required for health and comfort and access to Warm Front grants have also prevailed. 10 Northern Ireland to keep the milk cool and the water hot. It has also shattered any complacency about meeting the target This is further evidence of NEA’s continuing influence 13 Wales of eliminating fuel poverty within little more than on the debate about how best to achieve an objective, 14 Business Development a decade. which now has universal acceptance. I wrote last year about using our experience and expertise and it is 16 Warm Zones Rising fuel prices reinforce the need for homes which particularly rewarding to see such a manifest example are well insulated and adequately and economically of it. I am also pleased to be able to acknowledge the 17 NEA Annual Review heated, something which has been NEA’s core progress that has been made in Wales, where NEA message since its foundation 24 years ago. So it is has begun a programme on behalf of the National 18 NEA Funders List encouraging to be able to identify evidence that it is Assembly to develop affordable warmth strategies 19 Members of the NEA Board both being heard and acted upon. The increase in the with all local authorities. budget for Warm Front in England, even if we have of Trustees & Advisory Group been made to wait a while for it to kick in, is welcome. 20 NEA Staff 2004/05 NEA Annual Review 2004-2005 // page three // In Northern Ireland too there has been some progress particularly via Defra, the National Assembly for Wales in developing a strategy, but in a country where the and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. We view level of fuel poverty is much higher than elsewhere in recent increases in the funding it makes available as the UK it is disappointing that the resources to deliver evidence that we continue to be an organisation that it are still lacking. delivers value for money and plays an important part in realising the ambitions of the Government’s action It is commonly acknowledged that the multi-faceted plan on fuel poverty. nature of fuel poverty means that partnerships are essential in any campaign to eradicate it. Accordingly Building up the financial stability of NEA is one of the NEA sets much store by the many alliances it works goals I set last year. I thank my colleagues on NEA’s hard to bring together. The support of our business Board of Trustees, our advisory committees and the partners is essential to the achievement of our NEA staff for the work they have put into setting us objectives and we applaud the commitment shown on the path to achieve this objective. Ensuring that by all the major companies in the energy supply and we operate efficiently and effectively underpins the energy efficiency industries which support our work. achievements I referred to above and our ambitions Not so long ago it would have been unusual for for the future. commercial businesses to accept that they had social responsibilities. Now, their initiative and enterprise in For the forthcoming year it is evident that we must Dr Malcolm Kennedy CBE developing products and services which cater for the renew our efforts to persuade the decision maker Chairman, NEA needs of people on the lowest incomes contributes to and frontline workers in the health professions that real progress in this area. fuel poverty is an issue of concern to them and one where they have a critical role in dispensing a cure. I would like to thank all the companies, agencies Similarly we must address the problem of securing and individuals who have helped us to do the many sufficient resources for it to be permanent, particularly “I would like to thank all things outlined in this annual report. We value the in Northern Ireland. Equally, in the light of growing the companies, agencies and contribution they make to all of our activities, whether concern about the wider environment we must it be research, campaigning, training or projects ensure that our work embraces the sustainability individuals who have helped trialling solutions to practical problems. NEA is agenda, incorporating the potential of new particularly grateful for the continuing financial technologies in our search for solutions to an us to do the many things support we receive from Government, age-old problem. outlined in this annual report.” // page four // NEA Annual Review 2004-2005 No time to delay The past year has been challenging for all those engaged in pursuit of the Government’s objective of eradicating fuel poverty. Fuel prices continued to increase, pushing hundreds of thousands of low-income households into fuel poverty and, in the process, reversing much of the progress of recent years. Most commentators believe that we have entered for example investigating the changes in household a period of persistently high energy prices, certainly circumstances which move people in and out of for the immediate future; within which of course lies fuel poverty and examining the part that benefit the timescale for the achievement of the first of the entitlement checks can play in providing a remedy. William Gillis Government’s fuel poverty objectives. The 2010 We have worked to ensure that the issue retains Chief Executive, NEA deadline to eradicate fuel poverty amongst vulnerable its high political profile and that the consequent households – the elderly, those with young children commitment to deliver effective solutions is “During the last year NEA and with long-term illnesses and disabilities – maintained. Conscious of the growing concern is fast approaching and the task just became harder about the skills shortage in the insulation industry has continued to deliver a to achieve. we have also continued to deliver high quality training to a wide range of organisations and to wide range of demonstration In these circumstances it has become ever more support the training and assessment infrastructure projects promoting new and evident that the long-term solution lies in making for the National Vocational Qualification in domestic homes energy efficient. During the last year NEA has energy efficiency. innovative ways to deliver continued to deliver a wide range of demonstration projects promoting new and innovative ways to deliver In Wales, NEA made a significant contribution to energy efficiency…” energy efficiency and related services to low-income the delivery of the National Assembly’s fuel poverty households, particularly those who are currently strategy and in Northern Ireland we continue to raise under represented in the take up of many mainstream the issue of the lack of adequate resources to address public services. We have sought to develop a better the problem in the part of the United Kingdom with understanding of some of the factors which contribute the highest level of fuel poverty. to fuel poverty through a number of research projects, NEA Annual Review 2004-2005 // page five // At the start of the year the charity took operational ensuring full take up of entitlement to benefits. There control of Warm Zones Ltd, the not-for-profit company has also been useful dialogue with the Office of the which was originally established to operate pilot Deputy Prime Minister on housing policy. The schemes in five areas to test the Warm Zones concept. implementation of the new Housing Act presents This is an area-based approach which involves the further opportunities to integrate energy efficiency systematic identification of fuel-poor households and with more general housing improvement in the the coordinated delivery of the necessary energy coming years. However, engaging the health sector efficiency improvements and related services. During remains a challenge. The task for the fuel poverty the year the company has successfully moved beyond lobby is to find a language to describe the adverse the pilot phase, profiting from the lessons learned at impact of cold damp homes on the health of local level to become fully operational and in position vulnerable households to people involved in to enjoy a bright future. delivering health services, and the positive effect, both on their workload and the welfare of their The transition has been accomplished whilst clients, that their involvement can have. We also need maintaining an impressive output from the existing to articulate clearly the role the health sector can and zones and developing new ones. NEA will continue should play and ensure that the Department of Health to run Warm Zones Ltd.

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