Council recognised for tackling fuel poverty

Three council projects have been highly commended by the Association of Safety and Compliance Professionals (ASCP).

The commendation, for Best Initiative to Combat Fuel Poverty, recognises an organisation that has implemented successful initiatives to support residents and reduce fuel poverty.

The council initiatives commended were:

Warm Welcome

Sixty-two volunteer-run Warm Welcome venues offer free hot drinks and a friendly space, helping combat social isolation and connect residents with community services. 

The council recently secured £63,000 from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, helping 42 local voluntary and community organisations provide Warm Welcome sessions.  

During winter 2024-25, more than 125 weekly sessions saw 16,000 visits, supported by 287 volunteers. In one of the coldest weeks, 778 individuals attended a session. 

Housing and respiratory illness project

The Housing & Respiratory Illness Project, hosted by the Borough Council, serves all seven Leicestershire districts.

The team set up a reporting service for non-housing professionals to flag damp and mould issues, which are then addressed. Existing housing staff receive additional training.

Since the service has been implemented so far, 117 cases of damp and mould in vulnerable homes have been reported, with 61 resolved and the rest ongoing.

Warmer Houses

The council was awarded £1.4 million last year through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund scheme, to install external wall insulation (EWI) on 103 council homes across the borough, making them warmer and more economical to heat.

The council has identified a further 700 solid wall homes in its housing stock, all built in the post-war period, that would be suitable for EWI in the future.

Another 13 council-owned properties also received EWI via funding sourced from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Cllr Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Housing & Community Safety at the Borough Council said: “The council is dedicated to tackling fuel poverty by improving building energy efficiency, offering support and advice to residents, and organising community projects. This all helps to combat the fuel poverty crisis.

"I am delighted this work is being acknowledged. This area is incredibly important, and I want to extend my congratulations and gratitude to everyone involved in these projects for their dedication and hard work."