A SCHEME aiming to use collective buying power to bring down the cost of energy for Cornwall households has been boosted by a Government grant.
Cornwall Together, set up in a partnership which includes the Eden Project and Cornwall Council, has been awarded £895,000 which will allow it to launch a second round of the programme.
Cornwall Council has also been successful in securing £300,000 from the Government to help tackle fuel poverty.
Cornwall Together is aiming to bring together people from across Cornwall to help them with energy and bring down the cost of their household bills.
The new funding has been provided by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
Cornwall Together will continue to invest 10 per cent of the revenue generated from each energy switch into a fund which will address fuel poverty in Cornwall.
Matt Hastings, Cornwall Together project manager, said: "We are very excited to have won this DECC grant which will help Cornwall Together unite people in our county and hopefully secure significant energy savings.
"Winning this competition will enable us to improve the level of awareness, especially among groups who have traditionally been hard to reach. We will also change the joining process with prospective members now able to see the savings they stand to make before they get involved. This is a very exciting time for Cornwall."
People can register their interest in the second round of Cornwall Together now by visiting www.cornwalltogether.com
Switches will be made from February 18 with the round closing in the middle of March.
The £300,000 awarded to Cornwall Council will be used to offer insulation for more than 500 homes which are at risk of fuel poverty.
Carolyn Rule, the council's cabinet member for health and well being, said: "This funding is very welcome. We need to offer a joined up approach to help vulnerable people with the very real threat of fuel poverty and the whole raft of health issues that can result from having to live in a cold, poorly insulated and often damp home.
"This additional money will give the agencies involved the resources to help target support to those in most need and at most risk."
Anyone experiencing serious financial difficulty as a result of winter energy bills or is suffering from ill health associated with living in a cold home is advised to call the free phone no 0800 954 1956.
Cornwall Together, set up in a partnership which includes the Eden Project and Cornwall Council, has been awarded £895,000 which will allow it to launch a second round of the programme.
Cornwall Council has also been successful in securing £300,000 from the Government to help tackle fuel poverty.
Cornwall Together is aiming to bring together people from across Cornwall to help them with energy and bring down the cost of their household bills.
The new funding has been provided by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
Cornwall Together will continue to invest 10 per cent of the revenue generated from each energy switch into a fund which will address fuel poverty in Cornwall.
Matt Hastings, Cornwall Together project manager, said: "We are very excited to have won this DECC grant which will help Cornwall Together unite people in our county and hopefully secure significant energy savings.
"Winning this competition will enable us to improve the level of awareness, especially among groups who have traditionally been hard to reach. We will also change the joining process with prospective members now able to see the savings they stand to make before they get involved. This is a very exciting time for Cornwall."
People can register their interest in the second round of Cornwall Together now by visiting www.cornwalltogether.com
Switches will be made from February 18 with the round closing in the middle of March.
The £300,000 awarded to Cornwall Council will be used to offer insulation for more than 500 homes which are at risk of fuel poverty.
Carolyn Rule, the council's cabinet member for health and well being, said: "This funding is very welcome. We need to offer a joined up approach to help vulnerable people with the very real threat of fuel poverty and the whole raft of health issues that can result from having to live in a cold, poorly insulated and often damp home.
"This additional money will give the agencies involved the resources to help target support to those in most need and at most risk."
Anyone experiencing serious financial difficulty as a result of winter energy bills or is suffering from ill health associated with living in a cold home is advised to call the free phone no 0800 954 1956.
