RNIB and British Gas have been working together since 2002 on the Here to HELP energy efficiency programme. The project identifies and supports some of the most vulnerable blind and partially sighted people living in the UK today by helping households keep their homes warmer and save money on their energy bills.
The initiative has been awarded the Healthy Communities Award at the Business in the Community Awards for Excellence in 2004, as well as winning the Cause Related Marketing Award at the Marketing Society Awards for Excellence in 2005.
Since the programme began, RNIB and British Gas have helped over 3,500 people by giving away 28,000 free products worth £150K and identifying £3.5M in unclaimed benefits.
You could be entitled to:
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free loft and cavity wall insulation
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free RNIB products such as a big button phone, desk lamp and talking watch
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a year's free RNIB Membership
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a confidential benefits health check.
"The service I have received from British Gas and RNIB has been very good indeed. I would say this scheme is exceptional".
Peggy, a satisfied customer
Who qualifies?
You must be a British Gas customer.
You must own your home or rent from a private landlord.
Your home must require loft and / or cavity wall insulation.
You, or someone you live with, must be over 70 years of age or in receipt of one of the following benefits:
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Attendance Allowance
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Disability Living Allowance
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State Pension Credit
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Income Support
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Housing Benefit
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Council Tax Benefit
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Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
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Working Tax Credit (income no more than £14,600)
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Child Tax Credit (income no more than £14,600).
British Gas will send a surveyor to establish whether your home needs further insulation and will pay for it to be installed, if you qualify. Cavity wall and loft insulation will save an average of £200 a year on heating bills.
[Source: Energy Saving Trust, August 2007. Based on a three-bedroom, gas-heated semi-detached house with an average annual gas consumption of 20,500 kWh. Individual savings may vary depending on type and age of home.]
What other help is available?
If you receive free insulation you will also be eligible for some RNIB products and services, free of charge. For example, a big button telephone, talking kitchen or bathroom scales, a talking clock or watch, as well as a year's RNIB membership - all free of charge.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of home insulation, we are generally not able to offer 'Here to HELP' to people living in flats. This scheme also excludes council and housing association tenants.
To find out more, call RNIB on 0845 330 4897 or email rnibhelp-project@rnib.org.uk
Alternatively, you can write to us at:
RNIB
Here to HELP
105 Judd Street
London
WC1H 9NE
Here to HELP case studies
Listen to how these people were supported by the Here to Help project:
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Eugenie was delighted with the accessible products Here to HELP arranged for her to get.
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John was helped to get extra welfare benefit for his partially sighted daughter.
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Dorothy is one of thousands of people across the country being aided by the Here to HELP project.
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Marjorie told us about how RNIB helped her find the confidence to cook again.
The Unseen Report, commissioned by Here to HELP, highlights some of the difficulties faced by many older people with sight problems.
Read more about the Here to HELP programme