Focus firmly fixed on the future of region’s children

May 20 2008 by Francesca Craggs, The Journal

GOWARM is one organisation that is focusing on the future of the children of the region, by helping home owners reduce carbon emissions.

As well as giving general “green” advice to homeowners, many of whom are parents or grandparents, the organisation truly focuses on delivering insulation and heating measures, benefits assistance and energy advice to home owners in communities across the North East that so far have missed out on schemes offered by other organisations.

Thousands of homes across the region are already benefiting from a partnership formed by GoWarm and their Local Authorities.

Chester-le-Street, Middlesbrough and Sedgefield are the most recent councils to link up with GoWarm to assist their areas fight fuel poverty, with a total of 46,500 residents across the three areas targeted for assessments.

GoWarm is also working in Stockton, City of Durham, Wear Valley and Derwentside, with its team already making an impact on residents in these patches. Many have had cavity wall and loft insulation installed and benefits unlocked that they didn’t know they were entitled to.

GoWarm has been established with £835,000 funding from Defra’s Community Energy Efficiency Fund.

Karen Hindhaugh, director of Gowarm, said: “It is important that innovative and forward thinking councils concentrate their efforts in fighting fuel poverty in their areas and also help the future generations save the environment. By reducing carbon emissions in the borough, the residents also benefit from homes that are more energy efficient, which therefore saves money too.”

For those who are worried that they may miss the assessors calling, an innovative website has just gone live too, at www.gowarm.org.uk, with a special feature that allows people to self assess online.

With support from National Grid, the project has funding in place from Scottish Power, along with support from the Association of North East Councils.