Volunteers from a Coventry-based project designed to tackle fuel poverty were on hand to provide energy efficiency tips at an event in Jardine Crescent, Tile Hill, organised by Coventry City Council's neighbourhood action team.

Latest figures show almost 27,000 Coventry residents are living in fuel poverty, spending more than 10 per cent of their income on energy.1 To help them improve their energy efficiency, fuel poverty charity National Energy Action and energy company E.ON have teamed up with Coventry City Council and recruited 40 Community Energy Champions through the Community Energy Fit scheme.

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The project, running in Coventry since April 2011, aims to train unemployed people to deliver energy saving advice to friends and neighbours, helping them save money on their bills and keep warm in their homes.

Scheme participant Iryna Tarlovska, 43, who became a Community Energy Champion after completing the training said: "I used the opportunity to increase my knowledge and skills about energy efficiency and have since been able to pass on my knowledge to others and help local people reduce their fuel bills. I had the chance to make practical use of my training, try out new skills in a supported environment and ultimately increase my employability."

Suzanne Doxey, E.ON's Community Relations Manager said: "We know that there is so much people can do themselves in their own homes to ensure they are not wasting energy needlessly, but it's not always easy for us to get the message out. Through our Community Energy Fit project, working with NEA, we are able to provide volunteers like Iryna with the skills and knowledge they need to help people in their local community boost their energy efficiency."

(CD)