A Winter Calls project, promoting affordable warmth, has been a great success in Kent and Bromley for the Riverside community engagement team.

Starting just before Christmas and continuing into the New Year, the project was inspired by a similar one ASRA Housing Group shared with neighbouring housing suppliers.

Community engagement manager Rupa Chandarana said: “60 tenants were contacted by telephone and 14 are being followed up regarding affordable warmth issues and support. Three tenant volunteers helped to make the project happen across two sessions with the help of the regional affordable warmth officer who contacted tenants in Bromley and Kent.”

Affordable warmth officer Krissy Dixon said: “I had a great response in Bromley & Kent, although we faced some initial scepticism from tenants over savings that could be made. First I showed them the savings and carried out an inspection of boiler settings. Any repairs needed were remedied quickly. With energy use and tariff switching advice, overall savings to those supported in Bromley and Kent so far is over £1200, with more tenants interested in joining an energy supply switchover. It’s great that tenants have been able to support us in identifying those who can really benefit from additional support”

With energy use and tariff switching advice, overall savings to those supported in Bromley and Kent so far is over £1200

The success of Winter Calls in this region has enabled Riverside to extend this project to offer support to 100s of additional tenants nationally.

Riverside is committed to reducing fuel poverty in our communities.

Case study

Mrs Chapel, a tenant in Bromley, was not able to get a correct temperature in her home and was cold. She is 83 and said she had her thermostat set at 30c, so there was clearly something wrong with the system. Looking at everything from thermostat to programmer and boiler, it became clear that the pressure gauge had dropped and that was the issue. Simple to sort out and the repair was dealt with fast, to the delight of the tenant who is now enjoying a warm home again at an affordable cost.