Warm Homes Evaluation Summary - Bradford Metropolitan District ...

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BRADFORD AND DISTRICT WARM HOMES HEALTHY PEOPLE PROGRAMME EVALUATION SUMMARY A 47 year old Asian male with a wife and 6 children who has severe mental health problems and asthma. The boiler broke and could not be mended. The national <strong>Warm</strong> Front scheme was contacted to furnish a new boiler but they were not able to fund this. The bedrooms were cold and so the whole family would gather round one gas fire downstairs. This was a distraction for the older children who had university work to do. The scheme bought them heaters for their bedrooms, curtains, draft excluders and warm clothes. Through joint working with a Drugs Service, one client in very difficult circumstances – no money, no food, no electricity or gas (on prepayment meter) was identified. The client was given small amount of cash to top up his meter and vouchers for supermarket. He cried, saying he couldn’t believe that someone would be willing to help in this way. One dad specifically requested wellies for himself so that he could take his children out in the bad weather. He planned to take them to the local woods as they do not have enough money for trips to town. This is very important for this particular family as mum has mental health issues and is agoraphobic and is rarely able to get out with the children. The family reported improved relationships. A woman had received a quilt, wellies, pillows, and a fleecy blanket from the scheme. She had arthritis, was in a lot of pain and needed to keep warm. Then a few days later she asked for an electric blanket. She rang the agency to tell them how the electric blanket has changed her life. She was nearly crying on the phone saying how the agency worker is her angel and like a butterfly. 13
BRADFORD AND DISTRICT WARM HOMES HEALTHY PEOPLE PROGRAMME EVALUATION SUMMARY What next? The evaluation recommendations for the future “Its re-enforced how much need there is. The stories are not unusual and it will be hard next winter if there are no more resources knowing the need is there. We’ve opened a can and will be sad if between us all we can’t come up with something knowing what difference it’s made.” “Even if the funding is one-off at least it has highlighted what is needed and we could look at how we could be more creative in how to get it, this could be something that we could maximise. The need is there, unearthed the fact that people are hungry. Now we’ve identified it we need to think where we take it, what we do about it, what we can collectively do about it.” Findings from the evaluation are that all efforts should be made to continue similar activity, though the report makes a number of recommendations for changes: If the programme continues, it is important that it is fully funded. It should continue to be provided by range of partners. The question of whether services should be more targeted at specific groups or areas should be considered. A potential private sector sponsor should be sought. All public sector commissioners, including the NHS, should look at potential future funding. A future project needs to retain the flexibility, trust and lack of bureaucracy of this programme. However standard monitoring systems are needed. A central referral process needs to be included. A central purchase/distribution system should be set up. All organisations should look at what they do in the light of this project. Further work is needed to assess the Neighbourly Help scheme. In addition, the evaluation recommends: All relevant organisations should look at their activities in the light of this programme. If no funding is available, the Partnership Board should still consider how to still address winter warmth basic needs. The Partnership Board ensures that <strong>Bradford</strong> strategies, including The Community Strategy and NHS plans address the basic needs covered by this initiative. The lessons from this programme are considered when looking at future arrangements for the Social Fund and Health Promotion responsibilities which are due to transfer to the Council. ANTP should consider running an on-going grant programme. Items purchased, SureStart HBT 14
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Warm Homes Evaluation Summary - Bradford Metropolitan District ...

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