Many disabled people spend a lot of time in their homes are often more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather and research suggests they experience more barriers to accessing information and help than most.

For this reason Dial Mansfield and District has joined forces with fuel poverty experts National Energy Action (NEA) to stop local disabled people suffering unnecessarily by ensuring they get the help they need.

Said Dial community support worker Kevin Robson: "It is important people know about things like social tariffs and the priority services register which are provided by most of the big energy companies to help people cope with the high costs of heating and keeping warm.

"This is particularly important for vulnerable customers such as disabled people who may spend a lot of time at home."

The Disabled Householder Project, which is funded by E.on and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), helps people access grants, stay warm and healthy, and reduce their energy bills.

NEA project co-ordinator Paul Randall has been working closely with Dial staff and volunteers to deliver one-to-one and group training about fuel poverty and what help is available to anyone who may be struggling to cope.

The training covers which grants, tariffs and benefits disabled people are entitled to, how to reduce energy bills by cutting down heat loss and even how to switch supplier.

And to make absolutely sure no-one slips through the net, people working on the project will be visiting disabled people in the area to give them advice about funding for heating and insulation and how to be more energy efficient.

Said Paul: "Disabled people are often the last to hear about the assistance available to tackle fuel poverty, through no fault of their own.

"The key organisations who work with disabled people are working together to make absolutely sure as many people as possible, now and in the future, get the best deal on their energy, have warm and healthy homes, and get the help they deserve.

"Dial are the perfect partners to help get the message to disabled people because they work so closely with disabled people, and with over 120 other disability organisations. This project will reach people."
For more information contact Paul on 0115 9704026.

For information and advice contact Mansfield 625891 or e-mail advice@dialmansfield.org.uk.

The advice line is open Monday to Thursday from 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm and from 10am to 1pm on Fridays.

At other times there is an answerphone service and enquires will be answered as soon as possible.