See below for further information to support frontline workers
Frontline worker Information
How to refer.
West Sussex households living on low incomes or vulnerable to the cold could be eligible for a free Home Energy Advisor Visit and benefit from advice on reducing the costs of keeping warm, advice on energy tariffs and help with heating and insulation. Residents can be signposted or directly referred to these services to arrange home visits, subject to eligibility criteria.
Adur District, Crawley, Horsham District, Mid Sussex and Worthing: For residents in these areas, contact the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP). To find out more and refer a client visit Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) or call 0800 060 7567
Arun District & Chichester District: Residents living in their own homes or in private rented homes can contact the Wellbeing Home Energy Visiting Service. For more information call 01903 737862 or visit Arun Wellbeing Home Service. To refer a client call 01903 737862 or visit: Arun Wellbeing Self-Referral Form (Client)
Emergency heater scheme
Make a referral.
Please note – professional referrals only. Requests will not be accepted directly from members of the public.
If your client has no working heating system, then they could benefit from the West Sussex Emergency Heater scheme. Eligible residents are provided with one oil-filled plug-in heater per household to help keep them warm and well. The heater is a stopgap until the client is able to have their central heating system repaired or replaced. Due to the high running costs of plug-in heaters, the heaters must not be used to supplement inadequate central heating.
To qualify for an emergency heater the client must be a homeowner or living in private rented accommodation in West Sussex with no working heating system
AND
- Provide signed consent to share their information OR you (the Referrer) record their consent and provide yoursignature as confirmation.
- In receipt of means tested benefit OR
- Net household income of less than £18,000 AND one of the following applies:
- Over 60 years old
- Have at least one dependent child under 16 years of age
- Pregnant
- Suffer from a long term health condition worsened by living in a cold home
The heater will be delivered on behalf of the West Sussex Fuel Poverty Coordinator by Dial-a-Hubby within 3-5 working days from receipt of a fully completed referral form. The client is required to pay £1 toward the cost of the radiator to Dial-A-Hubby on delivery.
If you are unable to use the e-form above, please contact the West Sussex Fuel Poverty Coordinator on emma.pagett@arun.gov.uk or call 01903 737537
Secure online referral EH
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Resources and further support
Training and events
Understand fuel poverty and how you can help.
Bespoke training
If would like an officer to attend an event or carry out free training on Fuel Poverty and Affordable Warmth in your area, please contact the West Sussex Fuel Poverty Coordinator at Arun District Council. September 2020 Update: We are currently not providing face to face training but can offer remote tailor made sessions to provide updates to front line staff and volunteers on the current home energy support schemes available across West Sussex or the District you operate.
West Sussex Fuel Poverty Coordinator: Emma.pagett@arun.gov.uk
Who is the training for?
This course is primarily aimed at front-line staff, volunteers or community groups working with people who may be vulnerable to fuel poverty, these are:
• People on low incomes
• Older people, families with young children, and people with long term health problems or a disability
• People living in a cold home or a property that’s in a bad state of repair
What will you learn from the session?
- An understanding of fuel poverty issues and what you can do to help
- Be able to identify people who are most vulnerable and recognise signs in the home
- Be able to identify the health implications of fuel poverty
- An understanding of home energy efficiency and money saving improvements
- Sources of advice, help and financial assistance available to tackle and prevent fuel poverty
- The knowledge to refer clients, or provide information for self-referrals, to services which can help.
- The knowledge to cascade information learnt at this session to other colleagues
Why it is important
If you have contact with these households you could help them out of fuel poverty. There are almost 31,000 fuel poor households in West Sussex.
You have a crucial role to play in identifying people who are vulnerable in cold weather and supporting them to access the help that’s available. A few words of advice from a trusted professional can make all the difference.
