FUEL POVERTY IS EXPLODING IN OUR FACES, SAYS HELP THE AGED

23rd April, 2008

Responding to the fuel poverty summit meeting, Mervyn Kohler, Special Adviser for Help the Aged, says:

"Today’s summit is a worthy but inadequate response to a problem that is exploding in our faces. It is the most vulnerable who are forced to suffer the daily impact of fuel poverty and older people are especially exposed.

“With news that another hike in energy prices may be on its way, the social schemes of energy providers alone can not put an end to fuel poverty.

“What’s needed is a dynamic and sustainable strategy from Government, focusing on improving the energy efficiency of housing and addressing the long-term need to save on domestic energy consumption. Help the Aged has joined forces with Friends of the Earth to seek a judicial review to ensure the Government is held to its legal obligation to eradicate fuel poverty(1)."

Notes to Editors

1.       The Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 and the Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy require the Government to end the blight of fuel poverty for vulnerable people by 2010, and to end fuel poverty for everyone by 2016. But the Government’s own figures and a report from its official advisory group on fuel poverty predict that the 2010 target will be missed by a large margin and that the 2016 target is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.

2.       Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people.  Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.  Visit www.helptheaged.org.uk  or call 0207 239 1982.
 
It's not too late to join a Big Spring Walk! Organised walks will take place around the UK on 25-27 April - or why not start your own and invite your friends and family? Find out more at www.helptheaged.org.uk/walk

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