Five times more support for vulnerable households

An extra £218,000 for essential heating improvements will help up to 75 more vulnerable households across the Wakefield district stay warm.

The investment increases the Fuel Poverty Fund budget for 2026/27 from £58,000 to £276,000. This will increase the support available by five times, with around 75 households expected to receive fully funded heating improvements this financial year, compared to around 15 with the original budget.

Since its launch in 2013, the Fuel Poverty Fund has helped almost 400 vulnerable households with fully funded heating improvements.

The fund supports homeowners on low incomes whose health is affected by cold living conditions and who have broken or inadequate heating systems.

Cllr Wakefield added: “The Fuel Poverty Fund has already made a real difference to hundreds of households. Much of this investment is recurring, allowing us to continue providing additional support each year for the foreseeable future.”

The additional funding includes £150,000 from the Better Care Fund Disabled Facilities Grant allocation and £68,000 from the Council's Crisis Resilience Fund.

Eligible residents may be able to receive fully funded gas central heating improvements, including:

• Replacement boilers

• New central heating systems

• Radiators and heating controls

• Pipework and electrical works

• Flues and other enabling works

• Heating fuel conversions, such as replacing coal heating with gas systems

• New gas connections

Residents may be eligible if they:

Have a household income below £25,000 after tax, National Insurance, and mortgage payments as well as all of the following:

• Have savings of less than £16,000

• Have a broken or inadequate heating system

•  Have a health condition or disability that makes them vulnerable to the cold

• Have Council Tax arrears of no more than two months.

Applications are open now. Residents who think they may be eligible, and professionals supporting residents who could benefit, are urged to get in touch now to secure their grant. The Council aims to allocate all available funding by 31 March 2027.

Residents can contact the Council's Home Energy Team on 01924 305887 or email energyteam@wakefield.gov.uk.

Applications can also be made through the Healthy Housing Pathway on the Wakefield Council website. https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/housing/healthy-housing Housing, health and voluntary sector professionals can make referrals on behalf of residents.

For more information about the Fuel Poverty Fund and eligibility criteria, visit: https://go.wakefield.gov.uk/energy-improvements