WEARSIDERS waste millions of pounds worth of energy every year – at the same time as household bills are rocketing.

Now a Government scheme is giving you the chance to save energy – and pounds – with one phone call.

Since it was set up in 2000, almost two million Brits have benefited from the Warm Front initiative and its organisers are urging Sunderland and County Durham residents to follow suit.

The scheme provides Government funding of up to £2,700 for heating and insulation to help some of the region's most vulnerable households.

Hayley Peters, from eaga, the Government's provider of the Warm Front scheme, explained: "Most people will certainly not be thinking about their central heating in July, but we're really urging them to.

"The recent increase in fuel prices and the likelihood of more could mean vulnerable people who are already struggling to pay their bills could find themselves under more pressure."

Latest projections suggest households could end up paying an extra £400 a year for their gas and electricity from this winter – far more than analysts have predicted in recent months.

But Warm Front is hoping to help residents beat the fuel blues by helping elderly and low income families to save between £300 and £600 on their annual fuel bills.

The grant assists with the repair and replacement of central heating systems, it can provide loft insulation and cavity wall insulation and can allow the fitting of draught-proofing for households. To qualify for Warm Front, residents must own or privately rent their property and be in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

People over 60, those with a child under 16, disabled people, those suffering from a long-term illness and expectant mothers who have a maternity certificate MAT B1 are likely to be among those eligible for the scheme.

An important part of the Warm Front scheme is the Benefit Entitlement Check, which ensures households are maximising their income and which could also put them in receipt of the grant.

Ms Peters added: "So many people aren't claiming the benefits they are entitled to and because of this find themselves unable to claim the Warm Front grant when actually they could be eligible for it.

"Because of this we're urging people to contact us and do it now, so we can give them a full benefit entitlement check and, if they're eligible, install their heating measures well before winter."


Scheme was a godsend
HEATING problems forced a widowed mum and her three kids out of their home last Christmas.

But thanks to the Government scheme, this winter will be a warm one for Linda Candler and her young children.

The 36-year-old, of Springwell Road, Sunderland, who works at Primark clothes store, said: "I had problems with the heating for a while. I had some quotes but when you are a single mum with three kids a few hundred pounds is a lot of money to pull out.

"Last Christmas was particularly cold and the house was freezing so we had to move in with my parents. You don't realise just how cold the nights can get until you lose your heating."

She had heard that grants were available, but because didn't think she would be entitled to help.

Linda, whose husband Paul, 33, died four years ago, said: "When you are not on benefits you don't tend to hear about grants that are available, but I saw an advert in the Sunderland Star for the Warm Front Scheme and thought I would just give it a go."

After checks, staff from the scheme confirmed that Linda was eligible and her home has since been fitted with a brand new boiler.
It means that Linda and kids Emma, 10, Lauren, nine and Matthew, seven, will be spending this Christmas in their own home.

She said: "It's been like a godsend for us. We now have heating and peace of mind. The man who came out also gave us tips on how to save energy in the home."

Since April, more than 1,000 Sunderland households have benefited from the Warm Front scheme with energy efficiency measures that will make their homes warmer and cheaper to run.

• To receive a benefit entitlement check and find out if you qualify for Warm Front call the free phone help line on 0800 316 6005 or log on to www.warmfront.co.uk