Iain Wright is set for a warm welcome today from Mrs Shirley Spence as part of a national campaign to highlight how energy efficiency measures are helping people stay warm and healthy in their homes.

The visit is taking place as part of the Warm Homes Campaign, an annual drive organised by energy efficiency charity National Energy Action (NEA), and sponsored by Warm Front scheme manager’s eaga and the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the effect that increasingly high energy bills are having on householders and the range of energy efficiency grant schemes and other assistance that is available for those struggling to heat their homes affordably.

Cold weather and high energy prices result in increased illness and mortality rates. Cold and damp conditions can exacerbate a number of serious respiratory and circulatory illnesses, which can, in some cases lead to death. The elderly and disabled are most at high risk during the winter months.

Iain Wright is one of 47 MPs, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly Members around the UK supporting the Campaign by visiting constituents to learn first hand how energy efficiency measures provided through a Government scheme can deliver affordable warmth this winter.

Mrs Spence received a grant through the Government’s Warm Front Scheme. The funding enabled Mrs Spence to get a new boiler and central heating installed. As a result, Mrs Spence’s home is both healthier and cheaper to heat.

Iain Wright said, “I am delighted to be able to support the Warm Homes Campaign. High energy prices are putting millions of households under significant financial pressure this winter. Improving energy efficiency goes a long way to help those struggling to heat their homes in Hartlepool. I urge everyone to contact the Warm Front team on 0800 408 2095 to find out if they are eligible for the scheme.”

Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive at NEA, said, “Making people aware of the support they can receive, and the measures they can take to stay warm and healthy, is vital.

In this year’s Warm Homes Campaign we will be campaigning harder than ever to ensure that the Governments and Assemblies of the UK recognise the importance of adequately resourcing schemes to help those who are vulnerable.”

Paul Varley, Divisional Managing Director at eaga, said, “Warm Homes week provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of fuel poverty whilst also making people aware of the help that is out there. For low income households help is at hand through a range of measures. For example, making sure they’re claiming the benefits they’re entitled to through Benefit Entitlement Checks, making their homes more energy efficient, and there’s lots of cheap and even free ways of doing this, and of course, by maximising grant availability through Government Schemes such as Warm Front.”

NEA is a registered charity dedicated to ending fuel poverty. If you would like to support NEA, you can do so at http://www.nea.org.uk/donate/

Hartlepool College of Further Education graduate Richard McKie was congratulated this week by Iain Wright MP as the College marks National College Week by celebrating Richard’s success in the prestigious World Skills UK Awards.

Richard 22, who works for the power and process giant AMEC is a member of a three man team alongside colleagues from Wilton and Chester, which has been successful in winning the Northern heat of the UK Manufacturing Team Challenge. They are now through to the national final to be held in Coventry in January, where they will complete a sophisticated renewables energies project. If successful and the team are confident, they will go through to represent the UK next year in the Manufacturing discipline at Worldskills in Calgary Canada competing against teams from Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Finland, Brazil, France, The Netherlands and South Korea.

Richard, who lives in Seaton Carew is excited about the prospect “I am really looking forward to the finals in January, and I am confident our team can do it”, “We have some extensive training before the finals, and I’ve had fantastic support from the College in advanced CNC and CAM work”. Mr Wright congratulated Richard on his success saying “Hartlepool can be proud pf the incredible standard achieved by Richard and his team. Skills have never been more important, Richard is a fine ambassador for the College and the town”.

On Friday evening, Iain had a great time at the Maritime Experience with the Roaring Mouse Drama Group. Roaring Mouse is a group of people with learning disabilities who have come together to form a theatre company and to put on plays. It seemed fitting that a bunch of actors would have their photos taken as movie stars in a variety of film settings, to produce an entertaining art exhibition and calendar. Working with professional photographer Dave Hudspeth, the group recreated their favourite films and actors in a various poses. So we had Titanic recreated, which was appropriate given our coastal setting, Brief Encounter recreated at Hartlepool Railway Station, and Rocky in one of Hartlepool’s boxing clubs.

Iain said

“I was pretty envious of the James Bond photo shoot, where people seemed to have great fun with a top-of-the-range Aston Martin. I also liked the Godfather pose, given that it is my favourite film.

The project was not only great fun, especially it appears with the Aston Martin, but is also linked with a bigger and more serious project, “Did you get a Life?”, which looks at the ambitions and aspirations of people with learning difficulties in Hartlepool. This project will include a performance by Roaring Mouse early next year. My thanks go to Linda Malcolm and Roaring Mouse for inviting me to the event – I really enjoyed it.”

The images are on display at the Museum of Hartlepool in the style of full size Hollywood movie posters. The calendar is really high quality, and I would urge you to consider buying one for the New Year, which isn’t all that far away.
For more information about Roaring Mouse Drama Group call 01429 234111 or 07960 532554.