The Cadent Foundation has announced a new programme with Hope 4U to deliver effective advice and support aimed at improving the lives and housing conditions of respiratory patients in Derby and Burton.
The £179,000 partnership will see Hope 4U work directly with University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, including Queen’s Hospital Burton and Royal Derby Hospital. Hope 4U will work closely with the NHS Impact+ teams based in the hospitals and surrounding clinics to identify respiratory patients whose conditions may be worsened by poor living conditions. Home visits will be offered to ensure properties are warm, energy efficient, and safe.
As part of the new service, unclaimed benefits will be identified, and support will be provided to help patients apply for additional grants. With one in five people in the UK currently affected by a lung condition, symptoms can be worsened by living in fuel poverty. The partnership aims to make 1,000 referrals in its first 12 months, helping to improve the wellbeing and living conditions of patients.
A key goal of the project is to understand the impact of providing these benefits to patients. Beneficiaries will be closely monitored to assess whether energy‑efficiency measures and wellbeing support lead to improved health outcomes. This will be evidenced by tracking GP visits, hospital admissions, and long‑term medication use among those receiving the free support.
The Hope 4U team will also have access to small energy‑saving measures to be installed in patients’ homes and will sign eligible patients up to the Priority Services Register – a free support service provided by utility companies to ensure vulnerable households receive help during emergencies.
Luke Arnold, Director at Hope 4U: We are excited to be working with the Cadent Foundation on this important initiative. For many people living with respiratory conditions, cold or poor-quality housing can make their symptoms significantly worse. By working directly with patients and healthcare teams, we can identify those most in need and provide practical support that improves both their homes and their health. Our aim is to help people stay warmer, safer and more financially secure while also demonstrating the powerful link between improving income and housing conditions, improves health outcomes.
The Cadent Foundation has been working with charities across the UK to deliver local initiatives that help tackle fuel poverty. The new partnership with Hope 4U will aim to highlight the impact fuel poverty has on people with respiratory issues, with a view to using the evidence and results to roll out similar partnerships in other locations.
Ranjit Blythe, Managing Director of the Cadent Foundation: For the last six years, we’ve been supporting initiatives that help end fuel poverty. This new partnership will help further evidence the links between heat and health, as we gain a better understanding of how improving energy‑efficiency measures can have a positive impact on people living with respiratory conditions.
