Cold homes make life difficult

Campaigners are warning that the health of hundreds of thousands of children is being put at risk by cold homes this winter.

The warning comes as part of the Warm Homes Campaign, the annual winter awareness campaign, organised by fuel poverty charity National Energy Action.

It aims to raise awareness of the plight of households who cannot afford to heat their homes adequately, the benefits of energy efficiency in reducing fuel poverty and the availability of grant aid to low-income households.

The Warm Homes Campaign 2006 runs throughout this month and is organised in association with Powergen, part of E.ON UK.

NEA warns that cold, damp homes affect children’s health increasing the risk of common ailments like colds and flu, respiratory infections such as bronchitis and making them more vulnerable to allergies. Living with fuel poverty causes excessive stress for both children and adults and can lead to long-term depression and anxiety.

It warns that educational attainment can suffer too, with children finding it difficult to complete homework in homes where only one room may be adequately heated and also more liable to school absence due to cold-related illness.