Help with heating your home
In Cornwall fuel poverty affects 14% of all households (36,274 homes). On the Isles of Scilly it is 16.3% (160 homes) - (DESNZ Fuel Poverty statistics 2021). 3.5% of homes in Cornwall do not have central heating (2021 Census).
Both areas are above the England average of 13.1% and South West (11.9%). Cornwall Council’s business plan seeks to reduce fuel poverty to 5% of households by 2030.
Being warm at home has many benefits.
You can view a short film which shows the real difference this has made to people's lives on Vimeo.
One customer said: “I just wanted to thank you for letting me know about the Community Energy Plus boiler grant. I was successful with the grant and had a new boiler fitted yesterday. I am so grateful to them. They were extremely helpful and it all went through without any problems. Thank you again for giving me their number.”
Keep well and prepare for winter
We know times are hard, with prices rising faster than incomes.
You can watch a short film that Citizens Advice Cornwall (one of our Winter Wellbeing partners) and Cornish comedian Kernow King made with lots of useful money-saving and energy tips.
View the film about energy advice
The 'Cost of Living guide' from Parliament researchers features a useful summary of causes, effects and mitigations up to May 2022.
See what support is available for you
Why keeping warm affects your health and wellbeing
Cold and damp causes many other problems. People living in these conditions just don’t work as well and they struggle to go about their day-to-day lives.
Sometimes households live in just the one room.
Children can also struggle to concentrate on homework when they are in cold or damp homes. There is the worry of carbon monoxide poisoning from badly maintained boilers or chimneys and people can become isolated, as they no longer invite friend around because who wants to come to a cold house?
Are you or is someone living in your home:
- living with a long-term health condition?
- at risk of poor health?
- caring for a vulnerable person?
- a child aged 19 or under?
- worried about their home being cold or damp?
Is it affecting your health?
If so, then Winter Wellbeing can help.
There are a number of services who all work together to help you enjoy a warmer healthier home with independent energy advice tailored to your needs.
This can include home visits and follow-up support for the following:
- Access to heating and insulation grant
- Providing practical advice on:
- understanding and reducing your energy bills
- combatting condensation and damp
- Support for families with children if they have additional needs
- Debt advice
- Benefits advice
- Health information
For advice and access to services provided by over 30 partner organisations, call Freephone 0800 954 1956 or email advice@cep.org.uk
Community Energy Plus is an award-winning social enterprise that provides complete energy answers to help householders in Cornwall enjoy warmer, energy efficient homes as part of a more sustainable future.
Find out about grants and loans
Help is available with energy use and improving energy efficiency of your home, from May 2022.
Find out about the help available
Wellbeing guides
We also offer paper copies and download copies of the Winter Wellbeing Guides. Our guides are packed with useful advice and information. They cover staying warm, keeping well and being happy and safe this winter. Take a look:
Winter Wellbeing Guide 2023/24
Isles of Scilly Guide to Winter Wellbeing 2023/24
Cornwall Easy Read Winter Wellbeing Guide 2023/24
Top Tips for Keeping Warm and Well This Winter
Paper copies are available from:
- Council Information Points
- GP surgeries
- NHS premises
- libraries and
- many other sources, including all the partners listed below.
About the winter wellbeing partnership
The winter wellbeing service has been running for over 10 years. Since 2011/12, Winter Wellness has achieved the following:
- Over 20,000 households have received help to stay warm, well and safe
- 848 hospital admissions have been prevented
- 448 households remain in work and progress towards work
- 819 households have been assisted through the Warm Home Discount Industry Initiative (funded by OVO and previously SSE)
The service and is supported by:
- Public Health
- Inclusion Cornwall
- Council of the Isles of Scilly
- NHS Kernow
There are over 30 partners who work together to reduce fuel poverty, improve health and progress people to work.
- Affordable Warmth Solutions
- Council of the Isles of Scilly
- NHS Kernow
- Age UK Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
- British Red Cross
- Coastline
- Citizens Advice Cornwall
- Cornwall Community Foundation
- Cornwall Drug and Alcohol Team
- Cornwall Housing
- Cornwall Rural Community Charity
- Community Energy Plus
- Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum
- Home Solutions
- Inclusion Cornwall
- Live West
- National Energy Action
- Ocean Housing
- Royal British Legion
- Ovo (SSE)
- Volunteer Cornwall
- Wales & West Utilities
- Warm Wales
- We Are With You
- Western Power
