From school fairs to job centres: the efforts going into making energy support work for everyone

Anna Tinsley’s working day can take her far beyond a desk. She might be speaking to families at a school fair, answering questions in a job centre, briefing a community group or hand-delivering information to a trusted local leader.

Each conversation is part of the same goal: reaching people who could benefit from a warmer, more energy-efficient home but who might never respond to a conventional leaflet, letter or online application.

For families facing high bills, a cold home or financial pressures, the offer of fully funded home improvements can make a real difference. But traditional barriers – language differences, eligibility doubts, a lack of confidence in all things digital, or just not knowing where to start – can stall even the most effective support from reaching the households it was designed for.

That is where Anna and E.ON’s Green Funding Solutions team come in. Rather than waiting for residents to find opportunities like the Warm Homes Local Grant, they take the scheme into the places people already know and use, working alongside councils, charities and local organisations to make the process feel personal, understandable and safe.

“I’m passionate about helping people, and my role allows us to get out into communities and explain the support that is available,” says Anna, who has worked at E.ON for 22-years, primarily in customer service but now focuses on getting help in lowering bills to people who need it most.

“The key message is don’t be put off applying. Let us look at your circumstances and talk honestly about what we may be able to do to help.”

Because while the right combination of improvements can help households to lower their bills by using less energy, Anna’s work reflects an equally simple principle: the energy transition will only succeed if people understand the choices available and feel supported to take part.

Support that goes beyond the home

 Offering that support involves Anna regularly heading out into the community, whether it is local venues from schools, community centres, places of worship, even job centres, so residents can speak to someone face-to-face and get the answers they need. Local partners are also often on hand to support those who are less confident online or if English is not their first language.

That local knowledge and trust is everything. It can be identifying the languages and dialects spoken locally, building relationships with community, charity and faith leaders, and hand-delivering information packs those organisations can share around their communities.

“Working together with trusted local organisations means residents can have conversations in their own language or dialect. It helps us build trust, answer questions clearly and reach people who might otherwise miss out on support.”

Warmer homes for Coventry

One of Anna’s projects is in Coventry, where E.ON is working with the city council to deliver the Warm Homes Local Grant, helping eligible residents to access practical improvements that improves their homes, give them greater control over their energy use and – most importantly – lower their bills.

Every home is different, so the process starts with an assessment of the property where a surveyor identifies the measures that could make the biggest difference. Depending on the home and the outcome of the assessment, improvements could include solar panels, loft, wall or other insulation to help reduce heat loss; air source heat pumps and other heating measures, draught-proofing and other energy saving upgrades.

The scheme is open to eligible owner-occupiers and private renters in the Hillfields, Upper Stoke and Lower Stoke areas. Private renters will need their landlord’s consent, and different funding arrangements may apply to landlords.

Eligibility can vary by area and household circumstances, so Anna’s advice is not to rule yourself out.

Registering interest is the first step and does not guarantee funding, but it allows the team to check the household and property against the scheme criteria while funding remains available.

Anna says: “If you don’t know your home’s energy performance rating, don’t let that put you off applying. Checking it is part of the survey, and we’ll explain which improvements could be suitable for your property.

“For eligible owner-occupiers, the improvements are fully funded, with no cost to the homeowner. Once they’re installed, the measures belong to the property owner.”

The Warm Homes Local Grant is part of E.ON and Coventry City Council’s pioneering 15-year Strategic Energy Partnership which is working to make new energy work for everyone by bringing practical clean energy solutions into homes and communities. The partnership aims to lower bills and improve lives while creating local jobs and skills which mean the investment in Coventry stays within the city itself.

Residents can find out more and check their eligibility for energy efficiency grants via E.ON’s website. People who have received letters about the scheme can also use the QR code provided, with local community organisations on hand to offer face-to-face help with the application.