I was very happy to attend the annual Heat Heroes event, organised by National Energy Action, recently and offer my support to Rob Hargraves, Senior Project Manager at Severn Wye Energy Agency.
The awards recognise devoted individuals for their contribution to helping communities keep warm.
Rob and his team have built a strong relationship with local authorities across Gloucestershire, including the NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). These efforts have resulted in the appointment of a dedicated full-time Home Energy Advisor based in the Gloucestershire hospitals to help make patients’ homes warmer.
By securing funding of £5 million, they are able to provide many energy inefficient households across Gloucestershire with a free central heating system, even finding inventive ways of using new technologies to bring central heating to those without a gas connection.
Over the last 20 years, Severn Wye Energy Agency has helped hundreds of businesses cut their fuel bills and install renewable energy technologies, as well as offering the free Warm and Well energy efficiency advice line to Gloucestershire residents, which Rob leads.
I am pictured with Rob and Neil Penny, Health and Social Care Commissioner Manager at NHS Gloucestershire CCG, and I enjoyed learning more about their work. I agree that the energy efficiency of buildings is crucial to keeping energy bills low, and protecting the well-being of elderly and vulnerable people. Therefore, I welcome the contribution of Severn Wye Energy Agency to the Forest of Dean and thank Rob Hargraves for his team’s hard work, and particularly for their involvement with the local hospitals.
If you are worried about your energy bills or staying warm this winter please phone Warm and Well on 0800 500 3076 to find out how they can help.