Life doesn’t revolve around lighting a fire anymore: an evaluation of the Warming Up project

Abstract

Running from January 2003 until December2004, the Warming Up project aimed to create a capacity within south and east Belfast and Castlereagh that enabled older people to access the support and services they required to achieve affordable warmth. The project supported older people to have their homes made more energy efficient by promoting and facilitating uptake of programmes such as the Warm Homes scheme. By switching from solid fuel heating systems to gas central heating, it is less expensive for older people to heat their homes to the temperatures recommended by the World Health Organisation. Such measures positively impact on overall quality of life and,in the longer term, the health of householders.The project also aimed to reduce the number ofolder people who received a fire-lighting service from South and East Belfast Health and Social Services Trust (SEBT), and any associated dependence on the service which might perpetuate people within the catchment area living in fuel poverty.