Community Bulk Buying Oil Scheme Learning Toolkit

Following on from the success of a pilot community scheme to bulk buy oil the Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid and East Antrim cluster of councils (Ballymoney, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne, Limavady, Moyle and Coleraine councils) have published a toolkit for local government which provides practical advice on issues to consider when setting up and running a bulk buying oil club. The toolkit will be of benefit to interested groups who are considering establishing their own scheme.

Local government reforms have scheduled the transferral of community planning powers to local councils. In preparation for this councils are working in partnership to improve the health and wellbeing of citizens, reduce health inequalities and proactively support communities in order to address their needs. Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid and East Antrim Cluster engaged with Northern Group Systems and the Public Health Agency to form the Mid and East Antrim Health Improvement Cluster

The Mid and East Antrim Health Improvement Cluster identified poverty, and fuel poverty in particular, as the single biggest issue that impacted on the health and wellbeing of citizens across the seven council areas. At the heart of this partnership was the local community, working with all the relevant agencies to identify local needs and determine practical, on the ground solutions for households in need.

A comprehensive report was produced and published entitled ‘Developing Effective Governance Arrangements to Support Health Improvement Working at Sub-Regional Level’ which sets out a clear action plan to address the key determinants of fuel poverty throughout the cluster group area. The actions were identified through close consultation with the local community and stakeholder organisations and working together, solutions were identified.

Local people told the Cluster that they were largely dependent on oil to heat their homes, and that they struggled to be able to afford to fill their tank, often paying over the odds to buy small amounts at a disproportionately high cost. Glenravel and District Community and Residents Association had identified rising fuel costs as a real concern within their community, particularly for their most vulnerable households.

This important issue presented a unique opportunity for the Health Improvement Cluster to pursue a pilot community bulk buying oil scheme in the Glenravel area where households could come together and collectively purchase home heating oil to achieve more competitive prices.

To date, over 130 households have joined the Glenravel community bulk buying oil scheme, and in the first three months participating households saved an average of nearly £100 each, which is real money back into the pockets of those in need within our communities. The oil scheme clearly demonstrates that collaborative and partnership working is an excellent way of providing effective, community based solutions to local issues with efficient and focused targeting of limited and finite resources.

A ‘Toolkit for Community Bulk Buying Oil Clubs’ has been produced by Ballymena Borough Council on behalf of the Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid and East Antrim Cluster. 

Significant funding has been secured from the Public Health Agency to allow the pilot scheme to be rolled out to other communities within the cluster group area, thus providing real and tangible benefits to even more households struggling to pay their fuel bills.