A new team of energy advisors are now out in force across Newport to help people reduce their energy bills and make their homes warmer, safer, and healthier.
We're launched this new service today, in partnership with the Community Interest Company, Warm Wales, after securing a £500k grant from the Ofgem Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme in March.
The team, of 7 advisors, will be on hand to support around 6,000 households in the city across the next 2 years – with roughly 80% comprising customers of Newport City Homes and the remaining 20% supporting vulnerable households across the wider community.
They’re trained to provide advice on how to save money and energy; conduct money health checks; provide budgeting advice; assess eligibility to access benefits and provide help for eligible households to apply for energy bill support and money maximisation schemes.
Throughout the summer holiday, the team will be out and about across the city, including at our supported housing schemes and the following locations, with the Newport City Homes ‘trailer roadshow’ team:
- 25 July – Bettws – Bettws Shopping Centre – 10 - 4pm
- 27 July – Gaer – Gaer Shops – 10am - 4pm
- 1 August – Ringland – Ringland Shops – 10am - 4pm
- 3 August – Maesglas – The Muffler Car Park – 10am – 4pm
- 8 August – St Julians - Munnings Drive – 10am – 4pm
- 15 August - Alway – Alway Community Centre – 10am – 4pm
- 22 August – Newport East Community Centre - Moorland Park – 10am – 4pm
- 24 August – Shaftsbury - Ledbury Drive – 10am – 4pm
- 29 August – Duffryn - Sandpiper Way – 10am – 4pm
- 31 August – Bassaleg – Ruperra Close – 10am - 4pm
- 7 September – Somerton – Somerton Shops – 10am – 4pm
- 12 September – Malpas – Malpas Court – 10am – 4pm
- 14 September – Marshfield – Pentwyn Terrace – 10am – 4pm
- 19 September – Caerleon – Caerleon Shops – 10am – 4pm
- 21 September – Pillgwenlly – Pill Mill – 10am – 4pm
For further information, or to refer yourself or someone you know, you can contact the energy team by visiting the ‘Get Support’ page on the Warm Wales website and completing a simple form.
Alternatively, you can email the team at energysupport@newportcityhomes.com, or telephone 01633 38111.
Commenting on the launch of the new service, Sian McDonald from Newport City Homes, said today:
“With the autumn and winter months fast approaching, we want to support as many people as we can to find ways of reducing their fuel costs and signposting them to other places of support. The cost-of-living challenges continue to bite and every penny that can be saved counts. At Newport City Homes we’re more than just a social housing provider. We’re committed to providing welfare support to our customers and now, through this energy advice scheme, we can also help other vulnerable people in our communities.”
Joanna Seymour from Warm Wales added:
“Were looking forward to being able to get out and about to support the residents of Newport, whether you own your own home, rent privately or from a housing provider. This new service will be able to offer help in-person and over the phone. We can look at ways to reduce your energy costs or support you in contacting your energy provider – to come up with an affordable payment plan meaning you’ll be able to heat your home this winter. Please do reach out for support and advice from this new service that’s being provided in partnership with Newport City Homes and Warm Wales.”
Newport City Homes is also separately allocating £200k of its own investment into helping customers most in need over the next 12 months. This five-fold increase in its welfare funding is designed to enhance the support it can provide to the most vulnerable during the UK’s current cost-of-living crisis.
The association is also delivering an ambitious programme to improve the energy efficiency of its homes. This includes the construction of a terrace of new homes at Vale Mews, in Gaer, using state-of-the-art technology to keep customers’ energy bills to a minimum.