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ENERGY
1 STOP SHOPS FOR SOUTHPORT HOUSEHOLDS
A Southport
Euro-MP has welcomed government plans for '1 Stop Energy Shops'
to help households save energy in their homes and reduce their
bills. With around 30% of British carbon dioxide emissions
coming from domestic properties, Britons are Europe’s worst energy
wasters. But Euro-MP Chris Davies argues that people here simply
lack the service provision to make a quick difference.
Last year the Liberal Democrat MEP called for a new scheme that
would give householders access to a single telephone number to
secure them an audit of energy use in their homes, a list of
improvements that could be made, and details of approved contractors
that can do the work. Although publicly funded organisations
like the Energy Savings Trust can provide advice on investments they
are forbidden from recommending suppliers or overseeing improvement
projects.
But now environment secretary, Hilary Benn, has announced that the
government is examining ways to create one point of call for energy
improvements using existing schemes.
Chris Davies, his party’s environment spokesman in the European
Parliament, has welcomed the news and hopes it will address the
difficulty for householders to access the services needed. He
said:- "1/3rd of all Britain's energy use takes place in our
homes. If we really want to fight climate change then we must make
it easy for people to save energy and cut their bills. That's why
private sector ‘1 Stop Energy Shops’ are so urgently needed.”
Energy saving measures are regarded as the most cost-effective means
of reducing CO2 emissions with the cost of installing loft
insulation often being met by reduced electricity or gas consumption
within 1 year and cavity wall insulation within 2 years.
Mr Davies believes there is a commercial opportunity for businesses
to make money themselves while helping their customers cut their
fuel bills.
“I think this is a challenge for local entrepreneurs to get
their thinking caps on and work out a way to supply a service to
local householders who want to save money by improving the energy
efficiency of their homes. There's a range of work that could
be done," he says. "It could be as simple as draught
proofing and roof insulation, but maybe double glazing, cavity wall
insulation and a new central heating boiler would deliver a quick
payback. Those wanting to go further might want advice about
installing a heat pump to recycle warm air, solar panels or even a
wind generator."
Get your skates on in Speke!
PEOPLE in Speke are being urged
to get their skates on next week in a massive initiative to improve
life for local people. As part of a week long series of
activities under the ‘Respect’ banner, an ice rink is being
set up at Austin Rawlinson Lifestyles Centre at Parklands.
The week – the 6th to take place in Liverpool - will also include
action to help people into education and employment; activities such
as line dancing and youth sessions, together with crime prevention
advice and the fitting of smoke detectors. There will also be
a crackdown on fly-tipped rubbish, litter and graffiti along with
work to tackle anti-social behaviour, truancy and crime.
Councillor Colin Eldridge, Liverpool city council’s executive member
for community safety, said:- “This is about giving the local
community the opportunity to get involved in activities and help
them into education and employment. We are also cracking down
on the things that people have told us they want dealt with such as
fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour and crime. There is a real
determination from all the agencies involved to work with local
people to improve their lives and we have had considerable success
during previous weeks of action.”
The week has been organised by Liverpool First partners including
the city council, Merseyside Police, Mersey Fire and Rescue Service
and the Primary Care Trust and others.
Councillor Marilyn Fielding, executive member for housing and
neighbourhoods, added:- “The size and scale of the Respect
weeks is growing all the time. There will be literally
hundreds of staff from dozens of organisations working together to
improve life for people living in Speke.”
Liverpool is one of 40 Respect ‘zones’ around the country
given additional funds by the Home Office. Every home in the
area has received a leaflet giving information about the initiative
and how to find out more.
Local residents can find out more about events taking place as part
of the Respect initiative by calling 0151 233 3018, visiting
liverpool.gov.uk/enforcement
or by
email. |
Carers
in North West lose £11,000
a year in earnings
NEARLY 550,000
carers in the North West could be at risk of missing out on an
average of £11,000 a year in lost earnings through having to give up
their job, reduce their hours or take a more junior position in
order to care for sick, frail or disabled relatives or partners.
These shocking new statistics, published by Carers UK on Carers
Rights Day, Friday 7 December 2007, in a report called Out of
Pocket, reveal the full extent of the financial loss carers face,
particularly older carers of working age and those caring for more
than 50 hours a week.
Yet financial compensation through the Carer’s Allowance benefit –
provided a carer is eligible by earning under £95 a week – is just
£48.65 a week. Currently some 1 in 5 carers have to give up
work to care. Nearly 45% say they would like to work, but more than
a 3rd say they cannot do so without the right support services.
The same research study finds that a 3rd of carers are in debt and 1
in 10 cannot afford their rent or mortgage.
“This report demonstrates for the first time the extent of the
financial penalty faced by carers in the North West through showing
the amount of earnings lost by carers annually.” says Imelda
Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK. “Besides the
monetary costs of caring there are other negative consequences to
giving up work, such as the loss of workplace skills, social
isolation and reduced confidence. This makes it much harder for
carers to return to work in the future. It also means that they are
less able to save for their retirement or for their own future care
needs.”
The main reasons that carers are often forced to give up work or
reduce their hours are:-
o lack of appropriate support services
o a lack of
flexibility at work, or unsupportive colleagues
o benefit rules which
stop carers from working
o a refusal by the
person they care for to accept formal care services
Carers UK has made a number of key recommendations to deal with
these problems:
o A complete overhaul of the way health and social care services are
provided, with a much stronger focus on supporting carers with
innovative and forward-thinking policies to remain in or return to
work.
o Greater investment in social care - improving training, status and
pay in the social care workforce, stimulation of the care market and
greater resources for support agencies.
o New legislation to make it illegal to discriminate against carers
o A full review of carers’ benefits
o A new social contract for carers which makes it clear what the
state, employers, families and other services will provide, and what
individuals have to contribute.
o The right to request flexible working to all employees – to make
it the norm and reduce any stigma
o Jobcentre Plus to make carers a priority group
o Better information and advice for carers
“The evidence shows, that information and advice plays a vital role in ensuring that
carers are able to make choices about their lives – getting that
extra bit of support such as meals on wheels or help in the morning;
having the latest technology for alarms or easier contact; extra
financial help or having different work patterns – all these can
give carers more flexible options about staying in work or not.”
Imelda Redmond.
To help carers make these choices, Carers UK has produced a new
updated free guide for carers, to coincide with Carers Rights Day,
to find out about their rights and entitlements. Looking after
someone: a guide to carers rights and benefits is available by
calling the Carers UK helpline: 0808 808 7777 or by visiting
www.carersuk.org.
The theme of Carers Rights Day 2007, which is run by Carers UK, is
‘Caring
Costs’. Countrywide, a record number of nearly 1,200 groups have
signed up to take part in events and activities. For
further information about Carers Rights Day, please visit:-carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/CarersRightsDay.
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