DAWN Moves into Environmental Warm Zone
06 October 2009
Leading North East social enterprise DAWN Advice has teamed up with Northumberland Warm Zone to help the region's worst-off families save money and energy this winter.
Northumberland Warm Zone was originally one of only five pilot schemes launched in 2001 as part of the Government's strategy to tackle fuel poverty alongside working to reduce carbon emissions and save people money through the installation of insulation measures.
It aims to provide aid to people in the region who suffer financially due to the rising cost of energy - it's estimated up to 5.5million people nationwide are living in 'fuel poverty,' spending more than 10 per cent of their household income on fuel costs.
Warm Zone has now partnered with DAWN Advice, which works both within the local community and nationwide to provide financial support and legal advice. People approaching DAWN with fuel cost issues will be referred to Warm Zone for help reducing both energy usage and bills.
Warm Zone helps do so through a number of different services, including giving energy efficiency and benefits advice and helping to arrange the installation of such energy saving measures as cavity wall and loft insulation and draught proofing. Warm Zone can also help clients requiring central heating and heating repair, subject to status.
Liz Chadwick, Chief Executive of DAWN Advice, said: "Warm Zone does outstanding work in the area with those people suffering in fuel poverty and we feel very privileged to be part of that process.
She continued: "The combined energies of both DAWN and Warm Zone will allow us to reach even more local people and with temperatures dropping we are looking forward to making sure as few people as possible suffer from the infamous Northern winter."
Alan Milburn, Director of Northumberland Warm Zone, said: "This partnership with DAWN Ltd offers Warm Zone the opportunity to deliver a more holistic service to the people in most need within the county."
Set up in 1998, DAWN Advice is a member of the UK's largest network of free, advice-providing organisations, adviceuk and is a Member of the National Association of Citizen's Advice Bureau. It offers advice and information on a number of issues including debt, housing, employment, welfare benefits and family law.