John Denham, the Southampton Itchen Labour MP, is celebrating the work the Warm Front scheme does in Southampton Itchen to help the most vulnerable in the community to keep warm and stay healthy.

Warm Front, which combats fuel poverty by installing central heating and heat saving insulation work into the homes of vulnerable people, has so far assisted 2,304 households in Southampton Itchen - a total spend of £2,102,711.43 in the area.

John Denham said: “The Warm Front scheme provides heating and insulation to the homes of some of my most vulnerable constituents, and it has my total support. Affordable heat is a basic need for everybody.  Anybody needing help, who owns their own home or rents from a private landlord, should phone the Warm Front team on 0800 316 6014.”

The scheme manager, eaga plc, has reported that 767 households have benefited from a brand new central heating system or repair to their current central heating system in Southampton Itchen and 1,471 have benefited from energy saving insulation measures since they have operated the scheme (1 June 2000 to 29 Sept 2007).

Householders applying for the Warm Front scheme also have the opportunity to undergo a comprehensive check to see if they are in receipt of all the benefits they are entitled to. Benefit Entitlement Checks (BEC) have been operating as part of Warm Front since June 2003, with the average weekly increase per constituent with new/increased benefits in Southampton Itchen being found as £21.63.

In terms of vulnerable groups of people who have been helped by Warm Front grants, eaga has reported that 330 households with children under the age of four, 566 households on DLA, and 1,209 households over the age of 60 in Southampton Itchen have benefited from improvements to their homes.

To qualify, householders need to own their own home or rent from a private landlord, and they also need to be in receipt of an income or disability related benefit. Local residents can contact the Warm Front team on 0800 316 6014 to apply for a grant.

For more information click here (opens new window).