The council is sharing advice on how to keep your home warm when the colder weather arrives.
Warm Homes Scheme
The council’s Warm Homes Scheme offers eligible residents a range of support including heating and electrical upgrades.
Residents must be a homeowner, aged 60 and over or the parent/guardian of a child under 5, and in receipt of eligible benefits or on a low income (low-income applicants will be means tested to verify eligibility).
Through the scheme, qualifying households will have modern, energy-efficient boilers and central heating systems to keep them warm and modern safe electrical wiring.
Boiler Service Scheme
In addition to the above scheme homeowners may also be eligible for funding through the Winter Warmth Fund. The scheme will enable eligible residents to receive a Gas Boiler Service. If a repair is needed the Council will look to carry these out up to a value of £500. All residents must be an owner occupier, social and private tenants must contact their individual landlords for any repairs to their heating or boilers.
All applicants must be in receipt of an eligible benefit, or their household deemed to be less than £31,000 a year. The Council will require proof of eligible benefits and household income were required.
To find out more about the above the Winter Warm Scheme or the Boiler Service Scheme or to check eligibility criteria, call the council’s Energy Officer, Simon Rugen, on 0151 443 5817 or email housing@knowsley.gov.uk.
Emergency Support Scheme
The council’s Emergency Support Scheme has been extended to offer support to all residents who are struggling to top up their prepayment meter, regardless of benefit status. Applications can be made online or if this isn’t possible, by calling the council’s Contact Centre on 0151 443 3200 where an advisor will complete the online application on your behalf.
People with credit meters may build large debts with their energy supplier if they are unable to keep up with payments. To support these residents, the council is working with Citizens Advice Knowsley to provide support with their gas or electricity supplier. To find out more, email Citizens Advice Knowsley – advice@citizensadviceknowsley.org.uk – or call 0808 278 7839.
Fuel vouchers
As part of the council’s work with the Fuel Bank Foundation, some local organisations can also issue residents with fuel vouchers for prepayment meters. All of these Fuel Bank partners offer residents tailored support with their finances and a voucher may be issued as part of this. Fuel vouchers will only be issued once eligibility and need have been determined, as part of a package of support. They are available from:
Halewood
Torrington Drive Community Association, Lichfield Road, Halewood, L26 1TE, 0151 443 2168
Huyton
Homestart, 55 Rupert Road, Huyton, L36 9TB, 0151 480 3910
Enterprise Credit Union, Hall Lane, L36 6AX, 0151 482 0177
HIYA, Hillside Neighbourhood Centre, Hillside Avenue, L36 8DS, 0151 449 3688
Kirkby
Centre 63, Old Hall Lane, Kirkby, L32 5TH, 0151 549 1494
Prescot
Prescot Advice Centre, Prescot Shopping Centre, Aspinall Street, L34 5GA, 0151 443 4639
Borough-wide sites
Citizens Advice Knowsley (0808 278 7839), Flourish and Succeed (0151 245 6111)
Energy Projects Plus
Energy Projects Plus is an independent not-for-profit organisation and a registered environmental charity. They aim to raise awareness about energy efficiency and other environmental initiatives. You can self refer to Energy Projects Plus by completing a short online form or you can call 0800 043 0151.