WHAM - Warmer Homes, Advice and Money

WHAM was an innovative model for supporting Bristol and North Somerset’s most vulnerable residents by providing advice on energy, money, benefits and carrying out home repairs. With a budget of over 1 million €, the support offered by the core organisations covers:

• Advice on how to monitor, check and pay for your energy bills.
• Help to make your home safe and secure.
• Legal, immigration and housing advice.
• Advice on benefits and money.
• Help with budgeting and debt advice.
• Tips on energy use and cutting bills
• Access to grants for heating repairs and upgrades.

WHAM employs 7 caseworkers who rotate between partner organisations co-ordinating support and acting as a single point of contact for the client who will have their mobile number and email address. A case is not closed until all of the support from the partners is complete. Home visits can be undertaken if needed (subject to Covid-19 restrictions). Some of the project's results are proximity with people, one-on-one meetings and personalised monitoring inspire trust and make beneficiaries happy.

The project started in 2017 and was completed in 2021.

Main beneficiaries: the disabled, elderly, energy-poor and low-income consumers.

It addressed the topics of: health, Covid-19, energy access and consumption, energy audits, social support and vulnerable consumers (disabled, students, tenants, public housing inhabitants).