GB-Shropshire: AONV 028 - The Delivery of an Advice and Referral Service with respect to the 'Keep Shropshire Warm' Programme

The Council is looking to commission an agency for the provision of the Keep Shropshire Warm (KSW) energy advice and referral service. The KSW advice and referral service will contribute towards local and regional strategic priorities, targets and legislation

The overall purpose of Keep Shropshire Warm is to:

Support Shropshire households struggling to heat their homes and those in or at risk of Fuel Poverty; Enable Shropshire Householders to take action to improve the energy efficiency of their homes; Verify and refer eligible vulnerable Shropshire Householders into energy efficiency grant schemes, including Shropshire Council's Sustainable Warmth Shropshire programme. Provide signposting to help able-to-pay (non-affordable warmth qualifying Shropshire Householders) to access additional avenues of support and advice. improve the preparedness of vulnerable households in Shropshire to cold/winter weather.

The Council is taking a preventative approach to reduce Fuel Poverty, building on work delivered by the Council and it's partners over the past decade. The Council and its strategic partners hope activity, particularly large-scale investment in energy efficiency improvements will help to reduce demand upon the health and social care sector, enabling significant savings, which can then be re-invested.

The Council's Affordable Warmth and Energy Efficiency (AWEE) Team are responsible for commissioning the KSW service. The AWEE Team has established a framework of accredited contractors to deliver energy efficiency measures under the Sustainable Warmth Shropshire scheme. The Provider will be expected to work with the framework and refer Shropshire Householders into this and associated schemes (e.g HeatSavers, ECO4). The Sustainable Warmth Shropshire programme currently consists of the Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2.

The KSW service plays a vital role in keeping people warm, safe and independent in their own homes and is part of a wider package of programmes across the county. In that respect, the KSW service acts as a key vehicle for delivery.