Warm Homes Healthy People

Suffolk's Warm Homes Healthy People is a project designed to help vulnerable people and families make their homes cheaper to heat. 

The project can provide the following for eligible residents in Suffolk:

• Grants for First Time Central Heating.
• Boiler or heater stopped working? Warm Homes Healthy People can lend you electric heaters and point you in the direction of any grant funding available such as assistance in applying for a local authority renovation or home assistance grant.
• Do you own or privately rent your property? Warm Homes Healthy People can arrange for an independent surveyor to visit your home and discuss energy efficiency improvements that could make a real difference to your heating bills.
• The project can also access grants to help pay for insulation and basic draught proofing
• Specific support is available for pre-payment meter customers. Pre-payment meter customers who would like support with their energy bills can contact prepay@eastsuffolk.gov.uk to find out more, or call Prepay West 07769 365796 or Prepay East 07769 366229. The support covers the whole of Suffolk and is available for all residents, whether they are in social housing, council tenants, owner occupiers or private renters. Find out more about pre-pay energy meter support. 

Call Warm Homes Healthy People on 03456 037 686 or email whhp@eastsuffolk.gov.uk if you've a question.

Warm Homes Healthy People report 2018/2019

Download the Warm Homes Healthy People status report (PDF) for 2018/2019 published on East Suffolk Council's website.

Winter fuel payments

Contact Citizens Advice Bureau on 01473 298634 or email survivingwinter@ipswichcab.org.uk.

You can also visit 19 Tower Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3BE.

Note: Age UK are no longer offering fuel payments.

Further assistance

• Making your home warmer as well as more energy efficient
• Help with getting your home properly insulated and draught proofed
• Emergency boiler and heating repairs - this is subject to funding availability and eligibility criteria applies
• Loan of temporary heaters in an emergency
• Cheaper oil prices and access to interest free loans via Eastern Savings and Loans

Please note: If you have substantial savings, any financial assistance may be limited.

Other ways to get help

In the first instance contact your energy supplier. They offer a range of services to older or vulnerable customers and people on low incomes, including cheaper energy deals and free or subsidised energy efficiency measures.

All gas or electricity companies offer a Priority Service Register to customers who are older, disabled or have a chronic illness.

• Benefits If you are concerned about the cost of heating your home you may be eligible for various benefits and schemes.
• British Gas Energy Trust Find details of trusts and funds to help with energy and water bills
• Charis Grants can help people who are struggling to pay their energy charges and other household bills and costs
• Community Action Suffolk Community Buying Ltd is a countywide oil-buying syndicate which enables members to buy heating oil at reduced prices
• Energy Saving Trust offers impartial advice on how to reduce carbon emissions, use water more sustainably and save money on energy bills
• Essential services: getting extra help free services that can give you extra help if you’re older, ill or have a disability, or you’ve suddenly found yourself in vulnerable circumstances
• Keep warm, keep well is a government information leaflet for people over 60, low-income families and people living with a disability. It includes advice on getting prepared for the cold weather and financial help to heat your home
• Lofty Heights A loft emptying service for elderly and disabled people to allow them to take advantage of the free insulation schemes on offer
• Priority Register Support for vulnerable people who need extra support during a power cut
• Surviving Winter A chance for those who receive a winter fuel payment that they don't need to donate it to a fund to help others who do.
• Winter are you prepared? Essential information about staying safe and healthy this winter
• Winter Wrapped Up (PDF, 351KB) Tips from Age UK on how to keep warm and well

Anyone who has a vulnerable relative or neighbour is urged to help them find out more about what support and assistance might be available to them.