Warming Homes To Improve Wellbeing Of Individuals

The Warm Homes programme aimed to improve the warmth of homes, and as a result, enhance the health and wellbeing of residents across five areas in Greater Manchester. Our evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the five pilot projects, looking at what activities were funded, the different local challenges, successes including identifying hidden health needs, lessons learned, and opportunities for future funding.

The 12-month pilots focused on vulnerable people, including those with physical and mental health issues, low incomes, and poor housing conditions. A key part of our evaluation was identifying the full range of benefits, including less visible “soft outcomes” from the support provided.

Our evaluation used both quantitative and qualitative methods, including:

• A review of programme data and plans.
• Over 40 in-depth interviews with residents who benefited.
• More than 20 interviews with local councils and partners involved in delivery.
• Analysis of national and local socio-economic data, mapping beneficiaries’ locations against deprivation and other indicators.
• A review of best practice from similar programmes.
• A Value for Money assessment to identify the most cost-effective measures.

Our conclusions and recommendations were presented across five priority themes. It was clear to us, the need for a Greater Manchester wide centrally managed fund, that could be tailored locally. Therefore, different recommendations were highlighted for Greater Manchester partners, as well as local councils.

These are being used to shape other programmes that take a holistic approach to supporting people with housing measures whilst identifying and supporting health needs.