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Renfrewshire gets wise to the warm deal
29/10/1999
Minister for Communities Wendy Alexander today launched a new scheme in Paisley that is warming people's homes and improving job opportunities for young unemployed people.
As part of the Scottish Executive's Warm Deal, the Heatwise labour market project has already helped insulate 800 homes in Renfrewshire and provided 30 places for long term unemployed youngsters.
The scheme has been boosted by nearly £500,000 funding from the Scottish Executive, Renfrewshire Council and the Paisley Partnership.
Visiting the project as part of Energy Efficiency Week, Ms Alexander said:
"Households on low incomes, particularly the elderly, benefit most from improved energy efficiency. That is why we introduced the new £12 million Warm Deal to give insulation grants of up to £500 to 25,000 homes this year.
"Energy efficiency also creates jobs. The Warm Deal is providing 400 places for the long-term unemployed - young people are getting the work experience and training they need to find permanent jobs.
"In Renfrewshire, the results so far are excellent and I'd like to congratulate all the partners for their efforts. More than 800 local households have received insulation measures already and 30 unemployed youngsters have been taken on under the New Deal.
"Creating healthy homes is part of our commitment to social inclusion. By funding projects like this one in Renfrewshire, we are tackling fuel poverty and helping young people into work."
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. The partnership involves Renfrewshire Council, the Paisley Partnership and Heatwise Renfrewshire (part of the Wise Group). It is built on Warm Deal funding of £90,000 from the Scottish Executive. Other funding has come Renfrewshire Council - £70,000; and through the Paisley Partnership - £130,000 from the Scottish Executive's Programme for Partnership Areas, £125,000 from the European Social Funds' Urban Programme.
2. The Scottish Executive introduced the £12 million Warm Deal, on 1 July 1999. The scheme allows for a package of energy efficiency measures up to a maximum value of £500 to be installed in low-income households - 25,000 will benefit annually.
3. The measures available include cavity wall insulation or loft insulation plus hot and cold tank and pipe insulation and draughtproofing, up to 4 energy efficient lightbulbs and advice on energy use and conservation. The scheme also provides employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed through the New Deal. Four hundred placements will be created in the current year.
News Release: SE1112/1999
29 Oct 1999