In a week where temperatures have dropped, Ken Skates, AM for Clwyd South, has shown his support for local warmth scheme, npower Health Through Warmth, by visiting a resident who has received help.

Ken Skates AM was joined by Carol Leaney, options advisor for Age Concern North East Wales; Kathryn Massie, case worker for Care & Repair Wrexham and Louise Twinam, development manager for npower Health Through Warmth. The visit was hosted by resident George Rogers, who was helped by the scheme.

George, 78, has arthritis which worsens in the cold weather, and when winter was just around the corner, his boiler broke down leaving him without any heating or hot water.

George knew he would not be able to afford to replace his boiler, so he contacted Age Concern North East Wales, who referred him to npower Health Through Warmth for assistance. The Health Through Warmth co-ordinator visited George’s home and arranged for quotes and funding so a new boiler could be installed through the scheme.

George had served in the armed forces, so the Royal British Legion was able to part-fund the work, and the balance was funded by the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.

George comments: “My arthritis gets much worse in the cold, so when my heating stopped working I was worried about how it would affect my ability to get around. I was relieved to hear that Health Through Warmth existed and I am grateful for the schemes help and the assistance from the Royal British Legion which enabled me to have a new boiler installed. Now, as temperatures drop, I can be sure that my home will be warm and cosy.”

npower’s Health Through Warmth scheme aims to help vulnerable residents whose health is made worse by cold living conditions as a result of inadequate heating and insulation in their homes.

Ken Skates AM adds: “It was good to see first-hand how npower Health Through Warmth has improved the comfort and wellbeing of vulnerable residents in the local area. George’s experience just goes to show how important schemes like this are when it comes to helping vulnerable residents who have cold related illnesses.”

npower Health Through Warmth was set up in 2000 by npower, in partnership with National Energy Action (NEA), the national fuel poverty charity. The scheme launched in Wales in 2003, initially operating only in the Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham & Flintshire. In 2011, Care & Repair Cymru agreed to hold and administer an npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund, enabling vulnerable residents across Wales to have access to funding support from the scheme.

Agency caseworkers can apply for assistance from the npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund which is held and administered by Care & Repair Cymru, and is specifically for assisting vulnerable people who can’t afford to fully fund heating and insulation measures themselves.

Since 2000, more than 72,571 vulnerable residents have been referred to the scheme in England and Wales for help with heating and insulation. £58.2 million has been levered to secure funding for the measures required, which includes more than £1.2 million from charitable organisations. In addition, £7.2 million has been contributed from the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.

Each Health Through Warmth case is assessed on an individual basis and funding can be accessed from a variety of sources, including the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund, government grants and charitable funds.

For more information visit www.healththroughwarmth.com.