We've held a series of events in Hampshire as part of a new initiative for customers struggling to maintain a safe and warm home.
We’ve launched our new Safe & Warm Mobile Community Hub scheme with visits to libraries across the county to provide energy efficiency and safety advice.
Our Safe & Warm advisers took part in Hampshire Library Service’s Green and Thrifty Fortnight, visiting Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Gosport and Havant to also share information about carbon monoxide (CO) safety. The free climate-friendly events have been designed to help people save money in a variety of ways, from learning how to make clothes last longer and tips on growing your own food to batch cooking lessons and how to save money on energy bills.
It was the first time our newly appointed Safe & Warm advisers had been out talking to people in our local communities, sharing information on signing up to the Priority Service Register (PSR) and offering support with issues associated with living in a cold home. It’s part of our ongoing to commitment to support people living in vulnerable circumstances who might be struggling as part of the cost-of-living crisis, and the first of many events they’ll be attending this year.
Our data-driven approach targets geographical areas with high levels of fuel poverty and deprivation, who would most benefit from our help. Our teams also locate local resources, such as warm hubs and food banks, to provide onward support to other local support services based on their needs.
We’ve introduced new Safe & Warm Mobile Community Hubs, which take our successful and effective Careline service out into communities most likely to be financially vulnerable. Customers can meet our trained advisers for energy efficiency advice, charity partner referrals, PSR registrations and even help to fit a new CO alarm.
Kerry Potter, SGN Group Social Impact and Vulnerability Manager, said: “We’re really excited to partner with the Hampshire Library Service for the launch of our regional Safe & Warm Mobile Community Hubs. Our Safe & Warms advisers are experts in what they do and have a lot of knowledge to share which will make a huge difference to the customers who need it most. I can’t wait for us to get out to more events like this throughout the year.”
We’ll also be taking our Safe & Warm Mobile Community Hubs into communities where our engineering teams are carrying out network upgrades or emergency repairs, giving us an opportunity to build long-term trusted relationships with vulnerable households in these areas.
