Residents across Nottinghamshire can save up to £7,000 on gas connection and central heating installation costs, with further savings on energy bills, through the Warm Homes Hub.

Over the next two years, eligible homeowners and tenants will be able to improve the warmth and comfort of their home and benefit from free services such as grid connection and first-time central heating.

The £4.3m Warm Homes Hub was launched in April 2020 by Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Energy Partnership, Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire and E.ON to provide support for residents across the city and county, and has stepped up to support those who have been affected by Covid-19.

As well as improving the energy efficiency of the home, a warm home can see significant improvements in health, reducing the risk of illnesses and decreasing the chances of damp and mould.

Eligible residents can also benefit from free cavity wall and loft insulation and see additional savings on their energy bills. For those struggling with broken or faulty boiler, the hub offers grants towards a replacement or repair. If required, a short-term loan of heaters is available too.

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Growth and Economic Development team saw an increased demand for residents needing extra support during the Covid-19 crisis and has linked the Warm Homes Hub service with the Notts Covid-19 Community Response Hub, thus joining up the support available. Through the support hub, local volunteer groups offer a variety of help such as prescription collection and delivery, food delivery and dog walking for those who are staying at home because of Coronavirus.

To ease concerns for the households possibly facing unemployment due to the crisis, professional help is also available through the Warm Homes Hub to complete benefit checks and other applications for hardship funds or one-off crisis grants towards essential living expenses such as food and bills.

A Nottinghamshire woman contacted the Warm Homes Hub when she lost her job due to Covid-19 and was struggling to pay bills and repair her cooker. The Warm Homes Hub team helped the client during lockdown and provided her with foodbank vouchers, gas vouchers and helped her to get a free replacement cooker.

The client said: “When I first contacted the team, I felt really embarrassed explaining the situation I was in, with not enough money to top up the gas. I also had a broken cooker with limited food after losing my job due to coronavirus. I was put at ease and assured that I didn’t need to feel embarrassed. The Hub has helped me massively by arranging a food bank and gas vouchers as well as completing an application for a new cooker from a trust fund.”

“I am so grateful for the help I received. As a single parent with a three-year-old I was struggling, but the support through the Warm Homes Hub has been incredible. I would recommend this service no matter how bad your situation is. The team are very reassuring and help without you feeling judged.”

As the lockdown eases, the Hub will also offer Home Energy Visits to more vulnerable residents who could benefit from practical and tailored energy advice to make sure their homes are kept warm and comfortable.

Coun Reg Adair, deputy leader of the county council, said: “The Warm Homes Hub is a fantastic scheme that is helping households across the county save money and improve the quality of heating and energy efficiency. This scheme is particularly helping vulnerable people who have been affected Covid-19 and through the Warm Homes Hub, they can receive crisis support, central heating support and free energy advice.”

“This scheme is running for two years and I’d like to encourage all Nottinghamshire residents to apply for the support they need, especially before the winter months begin.”

To register your interest for first time central heating, visit www.warmhomeshub.com/apply

For additional support services visit www.warmhomeshub.com/covid19

You can also call the team directly on 0115 985 3000 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5.30pm).

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