An innovative home-energy support programme run by South Gloucestershire Council and energy charity Severn Wye has been recognised at a regional industry awards ceremony for its work with South Gloucestershire residents during the recent energy crisis.
The groundbreaking initiative, Step Up South Gloucestershire, was Highly Commended at the South West Energy Efficiency Awards. The commendation acknowledges the programme’s innovative approach to combating fuel poverty, promoting energy efficiency, and transforming the lives of vulnerable South Gloucestershire residents.
Step Up South Gloucestershire is a fuel poverty support and home energy efficiency initiative designed to empower households in South Gloucestershire to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes and lifestyles. The programme was launched by the partnership in the midst of the worst energy and cost-of-living crises in decades, finding practical ways to support households with their bills and efforts to reduce home energy use.
The programme does this with a unique mix of services: community-based case workers support those in energy debt; emergency credit is offered through the Council’s Household Support Funds; residents can borrow thermal imaging cameras from local libraries to check for heat leaks at home; and specialists are on-hand to provide energy-saving home improvement recommendations.
Step Up South Gloucestershire has already grabbed media attention. The programme was featured on the BBC’s Morning Live in January, where Severn Wye home energy specialist Paul Sheridan joined a South Gloucestershire resident to conduct a home thermal imaging survey, identifying the most important areas to insulate.
Louise Harris, Cabinet Member for Climate and Nature Emergency, said:
“The last twelve months have had a devastating effect on fuel poverty levels in South Gloucestershire, I want to congratulate everyone for their hard work in making a difference in the lives of so many people.”
Lucy Rees, Senior Environmental Policy and Climate Change Officer at South Gloucestershire Council said:
“As a Council and charity partnership we have quickly devised a range of services to help residents make ends meet and get their energy bills under control and make long-term energy efficiency improvements, so for our programme to receive the Highly Commended plaque at the South West Energy Efficiency Awards is testament to how much these services are needed.”
