Working in Partnerships to help families vulnerable to Fuel Poverty Rory McManus

Agenda Introduction to Bryson Energy Children and Fuel Poverty Context New Health Routes Project What is a Partnership Working? Stakeholder Partnerships activity Outputs and Outcomes Learning’s, Challenges and Opportunities

Bryson Energy Regional Energy Agency for Northern Ireland Deliver advice and practical support to households to help them reduce their energy consumption. Independent and not for profit. Recognised as one of the key organisations working in the area of energy efficiency and fuel poverty for 20 years in Northern Ireland.

Children and Fuel Poverty Increasing recognition of the impacts cold, damp homes have on children’s health More incidences of respiratory illness Poor weight gain in babies Higher hospital admission rates More time off school Impacts on mental health and emotional well being Traditional focus on the impact of fuel poverty on the elderly. Less attention on the impacts of children Given the impact of cold homes on children health and impact on the health service health professionals would seem well placed to identify opportunities for fuel poverty interventions

New Health Routes Project Supporting Young families at risk of Fuel Poverty Objectives:- To provide better access to energy efficiency schemes and income maximisation advice for families. Focus on children under 5yrs old and older children with underlying health conditions. To empower professionals across health and children’s organisations to identify and refer vulnerable families 3 year project delivered in partnership with the University of Ulster and funded by the OAK Foundation

What is a Partnership Working? Partnerships can be formed between individuals, agencies or organisations with a shared interest. There is usually an overarching purpose. Specific objectives. A lot is written about the theory of partnership working. However, translating theory into practice is a different matter

NHR Partnership Process Children’s Health Professionals and organisations Bryson Energy “Hub” Energy Efficiency and Income Maximisation Schemes All available regional schemes Single Point of contact Awareness campaign & Call to Action Stakeholders and Partnerships involved– Health professionals and Children’s organisations and the scheme managers Raising awareness of the fuel poverty issues and impacts amongst professionals Empowering them to signpost or preferably refer families Grants change but we would have knowledge of what was available and

“Call to Action” Bryson Energy Advice Line Number 0800 1422 865 or 02866 340782 Email: advice@brysonenergy.org; Supporting campaign materials Material developed to target families directly but also provide the necessary information to the health professionals and family support workers. Free and independent advice – Available to any household in NI Energy Saving Advice - Fuel Budgeting – Payment and tariff awareness advice - referrals and signposting to schemes These leaflets formed part of information packs that were delivered to as party of awareness raising meetings and engaging Health Professionals

Scoping Potential Partnerships May not be needed Visually highlights range of activity and engagement

Children’s Professionals Children’s Health Visitors Community Mid Wives CYPSP Network including Family Support Hubs Gateway Social Workers Sure Start Family Support Workers GP Practice’s Children’s Health Visitors Targeted all 5 Health Trusts Awareness training events at team meetings with supporting packs 376 Health Visitors engaged Gateway Social Workers Targeted Social Services Regionally Awareness raising training events at team meetings with supporting packs 87 Social Workers engaged Targeted all Sure Start teams in NI Awareness raising training of Family Support Teams/supporting packs 99 Family Support Workers Trained Advice and information stands Community Mid Wives 5 Health Trusts 5000 Leaflets/Pregnancy folders 40 Mid Wives took part in training and awareness events CYPSP and Family Support Hubs Network of children organisations Existing referral networks & membership Awareness raising training and supporting packs 96 family workers trained GP Practices All 298 registered practices invited to take part in the project 40 Practice managers engaged

Defined Area Partnerships Colin Neighbourhood Belfast University GIS Mapping – 2200 households Direct Mailing Door to Door Canvassing 3 local pharmacies Colin Sure Start Colin Neighbourhood Partnership activity information stands at local events Schools Health Visitors Church Newsletters local GP Practice

Schemes and Incentives Tenure Supported Warm Homes Scheme Owner Occupied & Private Tenants NI Sustainable Energy Programme NI Housing Executive Boiler Replacement Scheme & Gas Supplier incentives Owner Occupiers Heatsmart NI Housing Executive Tenants Energy Saving Packs Bryson Energy Retrofit Scheme Energy Supplier Switching All tenures Community Oil Buying Clubs All Tenures

Media Platforms

Outputs and Outcomes Over 750 children’s professionals have received awareness training 101 Information stands at family events, Sure Start venues, clinical settings Over 1,100 referrals to Energy Efficiency Schemes and Incentives 550 families with children have benefited from at least one energy saving measure installed in the home 125 families who availed of the Bryson Energy Warm Homes Scheme had an average SAP improvement of 23% in their properties Benefit Maximisation Checks identified additional benefit income for 129 families (average £44.46/week)

Learning’s & Challenges Converting good engagement and enthusiasm into referrals? Directly targeting families successful GP’s difficult to access Single agency as point of contact Changing schemes limiting partnership referral potential Children’s Health Sector referrals limited Reported staff leaving and not been replaced Not viewed as a core service GP’s difficult to access so very Integrating fuel poverty into existing practice and systems!!! Competing priorities - poverty, obesity, smoking cessation Examples of CFSP

Opportunities NICE Guidelines NG6 Social Prescription Pilots

Rory McManus Bryson Energy rmcmanus@brysonenergy.org 02890 734 275