Care Hub

LEAP offers free Home Energy Visits to people who are vulnerable to living in a cold home.

• Our aim is to empower members of the community to take action on reducing their own energy bills by providing information and support on how to be energy efficient.

• Our vision is to reduce levels of fuel poverty in the Cheshire and Mersey

Home Visits:

One of our friendly expert energy advisors visit residents in their home, provide a home assessment and deliver immediate support.

This includes:

• Installing simple measures such as radiator panels, LED light bulbs, draughtproofing for doors, windows and letterboxes, cylinder jackets, chimney balloons and TV standby savers


• Providing energy efficiency advice and training on the use of heating controls


• Organising the installation of a new heating controller where required


• Identifying the need for larger energy efficiency measures and seeking funding


• Support with switching energy supplier


• Checking whether the resident wants income maximisation advice and referring to the appropriate agency


• Identifying other hazards and vulnerabilities in the home and making the referral onto the appropriate agency.

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is open to all types of householders – homeowners, private renters and social housing tenants. They only need to qualify on one of the categories below in order to be eligible for the scheme. 

Income Criteria – anyone with one or more of the following: 

• Income Support


• Income-related Jobseeker's Allowance


• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance


• Pension Credit


• Child Tax Credit


• Working Tax Credit with an income below £16,190


• Universal Credit with an income below £16,190


• Income below £16,190

Physical Health Criteria – anyone with one or more of the following: 

• Cardiovascular condition (incl. coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, transient ischemic attack)


• Respiratory condition (COPD, childhood asthma)

• Neurological condition (incl dementia, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy)


• Musculoskeletal conditions (incl. osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis etc)


• Blood conditions (incl. Sickle cell disease, thalassemia)


• Cancer


• Physical or sensory disability


• Other illness exacerbated by cold (confirmed by GP)

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Mental Health Criteria, such as:

• Schizophrenia


• Bipolar disorder


• Serious depression (receiving regular treatment)

Vulnerability Criteria – anyone with one or more of the following: 

• Carers in receipt of carers allowance


• Housing Benefit


• Council Tax Reduction 


• Disability benefit e.g. Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit


• Contribution-based ESA or JSA


• Vulnerable family situation such as victim of domestic violence or recent bereavement


• Household with maternity/ child under 5 or particularly large family.

Making a Referral to LEAP

You can refer a householder to LEAP using the Energy Projects Plus referral form, which can be emailed to advice@epplus.org

Alternatively, you can call the Save Energy Advice Line on 0800 043 0151.