A CAMPAIGN has launched to ensure that residents at risk of fuel poverty and those who live in uninsulated homes get the help they need.

Warm & Well in North Yorkshire wants its ‘Prepare for Winter’ campaign to help vulnerable people stay healthy in their homes throughout the cold months and cut winter-related deaths.

A coalition of charities, the emergency services, local councils and housing associations are now working together to help people who find themselves in ‘heat or eat’ situations across the region.

The project offers a wide range of services, including energy price comparison and advice appointments, help to access home improvement grants, befriending services, and help and support with fuel debt.

So far the scheme has helped 268 households.

However, in 2016, there were over 26,000 households across North Yorkshire in fuel poverty - which is 10.1 per cent of all households across the region.

In Richmondshire and Hambleton there are estimated to be 5,642 households in fuel poverty, which makes up 9.5 per cent of all households in the two districts.

There are believed to be over 11,000 children in North Yorkshire living in fuel poverty, while living in cold and damp conditions is estimated to contribute to over 3,000 emergency admissions to hospital each year.

Laura Thomas, project coordinator, said: “Warm & Well is aiming to address the causes of cold homes of vulnerable people living in North Yorkshire.

“We are helping people to financially find it easier to heat their home, but also improve their heating system and insulation.

“Improving any of these elements will help someone to keep warm.

“I think it is very important to be prepared for when the cold weather starts to hit, this means that now is time to seek help if you struggle to keep warm over the winter.”

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that there were an estimated 250 excess winter deaths in North Yorkshire between 2015 and 2016 and there were estimated to have been 50 in Richmondshire and Hambleton combined.

Warm & Well is funded by the county council and Ms Thomas said: “The great thing about the project is that you do not need to be referred by a professional to access the services of Warm & Well. You can do this online via the Warm & Well website or over the phone.”