Thousands of park home residents at risk of living in fuel poverty receive financial support towards their winter energy bill for the first time

Almost 4,000 park home residents across Great Britain have benefited from the Warm Home Discount scheme this winter, with provision to help a further 1,200 residents still available before the scheme closes on 31 May 2017.

Eligible park home residents in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for a £140 contribution towards their winter energy costs. The Warm Home Discount scheme was introduced by the government in 2011 to help low income households pay for their winter energy usage; however the scheme originally excluded the vast majority of park home residents who buy energy directly from their park owner as opposed to having a contract with an energy supplier.

A survey of 798 park home residents who benefited from the Warm Home Discount payment in a pilot to the scheme in 2016 revealed:

• 92% sometimes felt cold in their park home
• 60% are living in fuel poverty (paying more than 10% of their gross annual income on energy)
• 41% have a household member suffering from long term physical or mental illness
• 30% would have skipped meals had they not received the £140 payment
• 22% would have borrowed money to pay their winter energy bill had they not received the £140 payment

Managed by Charis Grants, the scheme is endorsed by both the National Association of Park Home Residents (NAPHR) and the Independent Park Home Advisory Service (IPHAS). Permanent park home residents can apply for the £140 payment if they are billed for their energy usage by their park owner.

For more information on the application process and to find out who can claim, visit www.parkhomeswhd.com or call 0330 380 1040.