A NEW project to tackle fuel poverty and help people stay warm in their homes has been launched.

Residents in Braintree, Maldon and Chelmsford will benefit from the project.

The ‘Healthy Homes; Active Advice’ project will focus on managing and reducing fuel bills and helping residents stay warm.

The project is led by Chelmsford Citizens Advice Bureau, in partnership with Essex County Council, Mid Essex Clinical Commission Group and Chelmsford City Council.

The project will target vulnerable residents by ensuring their homes are insulated and have energy saving devices fitted.

For those most at risk of poor health as a result of their home falling below a certain temperature they will be given a cold alarm to alert a support centre.

Councillor Anne Brown, cabinet member for communities and healthy living, said: “It is really important that people keep warm in their homes, but fuel poverty is a reality for many.

“Fuel poverty is where low income, high fuel costs, and home energy efficiency combine to make heating a home difficult. As a result, people can suffer from ill health.”

As well as offering advice on making their home more fuel efficient they will also offer advice on managing and reducing fuel bills, including signing up to the energy switch auction site.

The project will target those in hard to reach rural communities, such as the elderly, through a leaflet drop followed by a visit on their door step by an adviser.

They will offer advice on services including information on benefits, hardship funding, energy efficiency measures and debt management.

They can also refer people for emergency accommodation and provide assistance to quickly access benefit support.

They are appealing for volunteers to assist in their local areas, as they can provide knowledge and experience that will be invaluable.

The project will run until December 2016.

For further information call 01245 205562 or visit essex.gov.uk/energyswitch