Thousands of Liverpool households are being given help to cut their electricity bills.
The scheme operated by Liverpool City Council’s Healthy Homes Programme provided six months paid work experience and training opportunities to six young people who supplied and/or fitted free low energy bulbs in the homes of vulnerable residents.
They also provided a free energy monitoring service which has helped residents to identify any potential opportunities to reduce their energy consumption and so reduce their energy bills.
Now the opportunity is now being repeated for another six young people aged 16 to 18 who are not in education, employment or training and live in Liverpool. The programme is due to start in September 2014.
The trainees on the first programme supplied and/or fitted about 2,000 energy efficient light bulbs in residents’ homes or gave them out at events, including those run by the Healthy Homes Health Promotion Team, the City Council’s Energy Efficiency Team, and other local community events.
In addition they also engaged with social landlords and other agencies, offering the energy efficiency programme to their tenants and clients.
All of the trainees successfully completed a number of training and development courses and they were supported in finding future work with three, so far, going on to further employment and the others being supported in their efforts in finding future employment.
Cabinet member for Housing, Councillor Ann O’Byrne said: “This is a great way of helping residents cut their fuel bills or help to get them out of fuel poverty by making small changes in their homes.
“And it is providing a unique opportunity for young people to get work experience in a growing area of private sector employment and learn many skills that future employers will be looking for.
An open day will be held on Monday 21 July when more information about the traineeships and programme will be available. To register your interest in attending the open day email healthyhomesprogramme@liverpool.gov.uk or telephone 0800121 754, giving your name, date of birth, address and telephone number by Friday 18 July.
