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Sefton Carers Centre is a registered charity that works to create a world in which the role and contribution of unpaid carers is recognised and valued; where they have access to support and services of the quality that they need to live their own lives.
They secured £246,052 in Phase 2, Round 2 of the Energy Redress Scheme with their ‘Energy Support for Carers’ project.
Project aims
Research by Carers UK has found that 61% of unpaid carers are worried about living costs and managing in the future, while 28% of carers are cutting back on essentials like food and heating.
Drawing on their experience supporting unpaid carers, the team at Sefton Carers Centre developed a specialist energy advice service, focused on improving the fuel efficiency of carers homes, through expert advice and small energy saving measures.
They also aimed to alleviate wider challenges with fuel poverty through referrals to welfare benefits support and services dedicated to addressing issues with home heating systems and insulation.
An elderly person with a walker, sat in an armchair at home. Another person is sat next to them and smiling.
Project deliverables
The team delivered energy advice through a variety to channels, including telephone calls, emails, as well as home visits, drop-in sessions, and face-to-face appointments at their centre. Advice ranged from simple tips to reduce home energy use to detailed guidance on understanding smart meters, exploring grants for heating upgrades, and managing communication with energy providers.
Carers and their households received small energy efficient measures such as radiator foils, draught proofing rolls, and LED light bulbs. Alongside winter warmer packs, that were created from feedback on the type of items that would be most beneficial to them, including hooded blankets, thermal socks, and room thermometers. These items help to reduce energy costs and improve well-being.
Through a partnership approach with Sefton Council’s Affordable Warmth Service, households were referred for timely support with energy efficiency improvements, including boiler repairs and replacements.
The project was promoted through events within the community, and the team also distributed leaflets offering tips on energy efficiency in the home.
You have supported me to help my mother get a new boiler and helped to ensure that an elderly vulnerable person can live in comfort as they should be and not at risk of their health worsening due to a cold home, as they suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). You’ve also reduced the worry and stress I had about the safety of her having multiple electric heaters within her home.
Merseyside resident
Project impact
The dedicated service supported over 3,000 carer households, who may not have otherwise received specialist energy advice.
Throughout the project, the team delivered:
- Over 1,600 telephone advice calls
- Over 1,400 face-to-face appointments
- Over 200 home visits
- Nearly 400 referrals for wider financial support
- Small measures and/or warm packs distributed to more than 2,000 households
Feedback from carers they supported emphasised that the energy advice service felt more accessible to them because it was offered by an organisation they already trust.
Sefton Carers Centre have developed greater energy awareness and knowledge about existing resources, which they will use to better support carers in their ongoing work even beyond the timeline of their Energy Redress Scheme project.
I can’t believe the difference the new boiler has made for my family. We can now heat our home adequately and the cost savings from the boiler being more economical are an enormous help. It’s made our home warm again and this now means I have a family who are happier and healthier as a result – thank you.
Merseyside resident