This collaborative project will look to directly address the desire to support customers in vulnerable situations by supporting and improving warm space infrastructure within the Yorkshire and North East regions of England. These regions have been selected based upon the geographical coverage of the associated Network Partnership’s licence areas.
Benefits
Immediate Outcomes
•Improved capacity of existing warm spaces to support vulnerable individuals.
•Enhanced knowledge and skills of warm space volunteers.
•Increased awareness and engagement of vulnerable customers with available support services.
Intermediate Outcomes
•Reduced instances of fuel poverty and cold-related illnesses among users of warm spaces.
•Greater community cohesion and social interaction through the use of warm spaces.
•Improved energy efficiency and cost savings for vulnerable households.
Long-term Outcomes
•Sustained reduction in fuel poverty rates in targeted regions.
•Increased resilience of vulnerable communities against socioeconomic challenges.
•Broader adoption of effective support models for vulnerable customers across other regions and sectors.
Impact
•Social Impact: The project aims to create a significant positive impact on the well-being of vulnerable individuals by providing safe, warm environments and reducing the adverse effects of fuel poverty. This includes improved health outcomes, reduced social isolation, and enhanced quality of life for those using the warm spaces.
•Economic Impact: By improving energy accessibility and reducing healthcare costs associated with cold-related illnesses, the project generates economic benefits both for individuals and the broader community.
•Environmental Impact: The project indirectly supports environmental sustainability by promoting energy efficiency practices among vulnerable households, leading to reduced energy consumption and lower carbon emissions.
Learnings
Outcomes
The project has not yet finished, but outcomes from the initial phase can be seen as listed below:
- Engagement and Support: Contacted 75 Warm Spaces, held 5 events with 99 visitors, and provided Winter Warmth Packs to 40 attendees.
- Training: NEA trained staff and volunteers, with 5 completing the Level 3 Energy Awareness course and 21 completing short courses on various energy-related topics.
- Research and Insights: Conducted a Call for Evidence with 101 responses and a literature review to inform best practices for supporting Warm Spaces.
- Community Impact: Enhanced wellbeing, social interaction, and provided volunteer and employment opportunities through Warm Spaces.
- Energy Advice: Delivered energy-related advice and support to visitors, including interactive sessions and resource packs.
Lessons Learnt
- Naming and Marketing: Avoid stigma by not labelling as "warm space"; promote as social spaces with multiple services.
- Partnerships: Develop long-term partnerships for consistent energy advice sessions.
- Training: Offer energy-related training for Warm Space personnel.
- Flexible Delivery: Tailor energy advice delivery to match Warm Space formats (drop-in sessions, group Q&A, etc.).
- Interactive Sessions: Use creative approaches like energy bingo to engage users.
The project has provided several valuable lessons. Firstly, the importance of effective stakeholder engagement, as collaboration with local communities and commercial enterprises proved crucial for success. Secondly, the need for flexibility and adaptability in project planning and execution became evident, especially when addressing diverse community needs and overcoming barriers such as stigma and funding challenges. Additionally, the project underscored the significance of comprehensive training for volunteers and staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality support services. Finally, the integration of research and evidence-based practices was essential in developing effective support mechanisms and best-practice guidelines, ensuring that future initiatives are well-informed and impactful.
