AS winter approaches, thousands of people across the region, and many, many more across the UK, will be dreading the months of cold weather.

The extra costs of heating are a major concern for income-poor families. People will be bracing themselves in the expectation of a cold home in the coming months, with all the hardships that this entails.

In the past decade a substantial amount of research has shown the difficulties faced by households experiencing fuel poverty.

Evidence shows fuel poverty affects a wide variety of households. Vulnerable households might include an unemployed person living alone, a single parent with three children, or a family where one member has a disability. Some vulnerable households live in a home that is leaky or poorly insulated. Others have uncertain work or family situations that throw their finances into disarray.

The government’s approach to fuel poverty was labelled as a “low income, high cost” problem and all the mechanisms of government focused on increasing energy efficiency for vulnerable households.

But the starting point needs to be an acceptance that fuel poverty is a complex problem, and that as such single policy measures, such as improving energy efficiency, are unlikely to work on their own.

Engaging a broader understanding of the problem will ensure that a larger proportion of those going cold in winters to come are recognised as legitimately fuel poor, and allow them access to vital support.