Ray Harrington-Vail of the Isle of Wight charity, the Footprint Trust. Picture by Peter Boam.
EIGHTEEN per cent of homes on the Isle of Wight have trouble paying to heat their homes — the highest figure in the south east according to energy charity The Footprint Trust.
The figure means nearly one fifth, or 12,000, Island households are in 'fuel poverty,’ homes which spend more than ten per cent of their income on their fuel bills.
To help families tackle their heating bills, The Footprint Trust is going on the road across the Island during this half-term holiday to give people guidance on how they can slash their fuel bills.
The trust’s recently named National Heat Hero, Ray Harrington-Vail, will be at the events to talk about the 'Warmer Wight’ initiative which can help with grants that can pay for free heat insulation and new boilers.
Cash to pay for the insulation and boilers has come from the Island’s share of a national £46m government grant to boost energy efficiency and encourage people to 'switch’ their electricity provider collectively and cut down on fuel costs.
Advice will be given at the roadshows on 'switching’ schemes by Isle of Wight Community Action which could result in homes shaving £150 a year from their bills. The Ecoisland partnership will also be giving people advice about the new 'Green Deal’ scheme.
Mr Harrington-Vail said: "We, along with the Isle of Wight Council, recognise many Islanders are living in fuel poverty and have to make decisions between heating their home or heating a healthy meal, now something can be done about this."
The roadshow will be at St Thomas’ Square, Newport on Monday, Somerfield Square Ryde, outside the Co-op on Tuesday and inside the Freshwater Co-op, Afton Road, on Thursday.
For more information call 01983 822282 or email info@footprint-trust.co.uk