Case Studies

Sarah, East Riding of Yorkshire

Sarah, aged 51, had depression and following some extremely distressing personal circumstances she experienced a nervous breakdown. The boiler in her semi detached home broke down leaving her without heating and hot water which added to her very stressful situation. Sarah was unable to afford a replacement boiler and didn’t know where to turn for help.

After visiting the local pension service for advice, Sarah was referred to npower Health Through Warmth. The local scheme Co-ordinator quickly organised quotes and sought funding for installation of a new boiler, costing £1,321. Contributions were made by the occupational charity Nurse Aid (£700), Welton Relief in Need Charity (£150), and £471 was accessed from the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.

Sarah says: “The help and compassion I received from Health Through Warmth was so appreciated, my life has been changed for the better.”

Jacob, East Riding of Yorkshire

Jacob has cerebral palsy, and lives with his mother in East Riding.  Their home had a very old inefficient gas boiler and there were no radiators upstairs, making the property very cold, which adversely affected Jacob’s health.  

After a referral to Health Through Warmth, the scheme applied to Warm Front and accessed a grant of £2,700 for a new boiler, controls and thermostatic radiator valves.  However there was a Warm Front grant excess of £1,700, and an additional cost of £470 for extra radiators in the property.  This was paid for by the npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund, along with a donation of £200 from an anonymous children's charity.

The scheme also assisted the family in accessing a grant from the Family Fund Trust for a new washing machine and replacement window, and obtaining a dual fuel tariff from their energy supplier to help reduce their heating bills in the future.

John, East Riding

John from Withernsea, near Hull, has Parkinson’s. When his warm air heating system and gas fire broke down, he found himself confined to just one room trying to keep warm. He was referred to Health Through Warmth for help.

The scheme accessed £2,700 in funding from the Government Warm Front grant scheme and £500 from the Parkinson's UK, to enable remedial work to the gas supply and installation of central heating to John’s home, reinstating his comfort and quality of life. John said: "As the weather got colder I became more concerned with how the lack of heat was affecting my health. I noticed my Parkinson’s symptoms were getting worse, but I was unsure where to turn for help.

"We were overjoyed to discover we were eligible for help from the npower Health Through Warmth scheme, because the cold was making our health problems worse. We can live a normal life, move around our home in a warm environment and can invite friends and family around to visit once again. Our brand new central heating system has transformed our house back into a home."