Together for Warm Homes: Fuel Poverty Awareness Day – 26 November

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day calls attention to a reality affecting millions across the UK.

As another winter approaches, many households face the devastating choice between heating their home and paying for other essentials. Tendring Community Energy is committed to standing with those affected and helping build a fair, affordable, and resilient local energy future.

Fuel Poverty in England – the Latest Picture

Government data shows that around 11.0% of households in England — roughly 2.7 million homes — are in fuel poverty under the official LILEE definition.
Research also shows that more than 8.9 million households spend over 10% of their income on energy, leaving little room for other necessities.
The “fuel poverty gap” — the extra money a household needs each year to escape fuel poverty — is estimated at £407.
These numbers show the scale, but the lived experience here in Tendring is what truly matters.

Why This Matters in Tendring

Our district has a high proportion of older residents, off-gas homes, and households in low-income communities. Many properties are not insulated, hard to heat, with inefficient heating systems that are expensive to run.
Tenants are often unable to make structural improvements, install insulation, repair or replace boilers and old appliances and end up paying a lot more for their energy than they should.
Cold, damp homes damage health, worsen respiratory conditions, harm mental wellbeing, and trap families in a cycle of fuel debt leading to increasing poverty and declining health.

Warm homes save lives — literally.

How Tendring Community Energy Is Taking Action
We are building a community-led movement for affordable warmth:

1️⃣ Supporting Households

We help residents understand their energy options, access grants, improve efficiency, and receive practical guidance on lowering bills.

2️⃣ Improving Home Efficiency

From insulation to smart controls, better windows to renewable heating systems, efficiency is the most powerful long-term solution for fuel poverty.
Nearly 60% of low-income homes now reach EPC band C — progress, but far from enough.

3️⃣ Community-Owned Renewable Energy

Local clean energy reduces dependence on volatile fossil-fuel markets. We aim to design, install and manage renewable energy projects across the district, with the proceeds from the sale of the energy generated being used for projects to alleviate fuel poverty and reduce the carbon footprint of our residents
Community ownership means that benefits — financial and environmental — stay in Tendring.

4️⃣ Awareness and Advocacy

We work alongside national organisations such as the NEA, Energy Saving Trust, and Energy Local to support fairer energy pricing, safe heating systems, and informed consumer choice.

We also organise local information events for residents to help them use their energy more efficiency, and help them become more resilient in the face of rising energy prices.

How You Can Help Today

✔ Check on someone who may be struggling

✔ Share resources, guidance, and signposting

✔ Ask us about grants, upgrades, and energy support

✔ Support community energy projects in Tendring

✔ Share this message on social media

✔ Join us in pushing for warm, safe homes for all

This Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, Tendring Community Energy renews our commitment to fairness, dignity, and sustainability.

Together, we can ensure no one in our community has to choose between heating and eating.