Fuel Poverty

Fuel Stamp Saving Schemes were launched in each of the legacy Council areas to provide local residents with the opportunity to save on a regular basis and budget towards the cost of their fuel payments. Following the success of these schemes Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has re-launched its Fuel Saving Stamp Scheme introducing one stamp across the borough.

It is hoped the initiative will help to combat fuel poverty by encouraging householders to budget towards the cost of heating their home.

44% of people living in the Borough are affected by fuel poverty. As a key partner within the Fuel Poverty Steering Group, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is committed to tackling the issue by promoting the use of fuel stamps.

The re-launched scheme will be delivered across the Borough by Limavady Community Development Initiative.

Voicing her support, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Joan Baird OBE said: “I was delighted to welcome representatives from LCDI, along with our retailers and oil suppliers to our recent launch event for this hugely important scheme. As a Council, we have a duty to promote health and well-being and we must do all we can to help alleviate the potential fall-out from fuel poverty.

“It can have a hugely negative impact on quality of life by creating hardship and health issues. The Fuel Stamp Scheme is an excellent example of partnership working between the public, private and voluntary sectors and I have no doubt it will make an important difference to the most vulnerable among us.”

The centralisation of the fuel stamp initiative brings together legacy schemes which previously operated in Ballymoney, Coleraine, Moyle and Limavady.

Last year, over £700,000 worth of stamps were sold within the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough, highlighting their importance to local communities.

The stamps, which cost £5, are available from a wide range of retail outlets including local Post Offices and Credit Unions. A large number of oil distributors accept them as payment or part payment.

To find out more about the scheme, including how to start saving, contact Limavady Community Development Initiative by ringing (028) 777 69160 / (028) 777 65438 or (028) 777 62303 or go to www.lcdi.co.uk.

For average home heating oil prices in your area see Table 2 on the link below:

www.consumercouncil.org.uk/energy/home-heating-oil/

Aiming to eradicate Fuel Poverty in Northern Ireland see link below:

fuelpovertyni.org/

The link below also includes some further useful information:

Stay Warm and Well during the Cold Spell

Participating Outlets

Retail outlets and suppliers who would like to join the scheme should contact one of the local offices.The Council would like to thank all the suppliers and retail outlets for supporting the scheme.

Participating Suppliers