Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the North of England’s gas distributor, has launched a new national recipe competition with a community group and an award-winning chef in Northumberland to raise awareness of fuel poverty, energy efficiency and the support available to residents throughout the region that may be struggling to heat their homes.
To coincide with the Nation’s Biggest Housewarming on Wednesday 5 February – a event created by National Energy Action to increase awareness of fuel poverty around the UK and Ireland – NGN is launching a national competition, in partnership with Community Action Northumberland, to share delicious slow-cooker recipes. The competition promotes the key messages of healthy eating, well-being and economic cooking; entrants must create an appetizing, easy-to-prepare recipe made with affordable ingredients, prepared in a slow cooker. It could be a family favourite, a new innovation or a spin on a classic – the choice is yours!
The recipe competition was launched at the inaugural Warm Hub Luncheon Club at St Mary’s Church, Longframlington, near Morpeth. As well as receiving a delicious hot meal of homemade soups and apple crumble and advice regarding energy efficiency, attendees at the Warm Hub were treated to a demonstration of a Vegetable Moroccan Stew recipe, specially designed and prepared by Michael Hall, regional winner of Chef of the Year at the 2016 North East Culinary Trade Association, and chef at The Granby Inn, Longframlington nr. Morpeth.
The competition is running until 28th February 2020. The prize includes a slow cooker, provided by NGN, essential kitchen utensils and a hamper of locally sourced ingredients to make a range of delicious slow-cooked recipes. The competition will be judged by Michael Hall and Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy at NGN.
NGN and long term partner, Community Action Northumberland, launched the award-winning Warm Hubs programme, funded by Northern Gas Networks, in 2015. The programme, which is now self-sustaining, gives residents in rural, off-grid locations access to friendly, warm places, run by local volunteers, where they can go to socialise, enjoy refreshments and have access to services including energy efficiency advice.
Together, they have launched the new Pop-Up Hubs Project, a series of one-off Warm Hub events in the more isolated areas of Northumberland where very often there is a lack of existing services for communities who may not be connected to the gas network. More than 8,000 residents use the Warm Hubs throughout the year, with the Pop-Up Hubs reaching 500 people across the county so far.
The Pop-Ups focus on the benefits of slow cookers as a low-cost, easy to use way of cooking hot, healthy meals. Savings of up to 63p per hour can be made by using a slow cooker instead of a traditional cooker which can make a huge difference to many householders. The Hubs also offer information on tariffs, the Priority Services Register and Warm Homes discount which are some of the ways NGN support those in need of help across the region.
Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy at Northern Gas Networks, said: “It is extremely important to raise awareness on fuel efficiency, particularly to those people that don’t have access to the gas network and need to rely on more expensive sources of energy to heat their homes. The Warm Hubs and Pop-Up Hubs Projects are an excellent way to generate awareness about energy efficiency and affordable living, as well as bringing the local community together. We are extremely excited to see the creative and unique recipe entries from people across the country.”
Christine Nicholls, Community Development Officer at Community Action Northumberland, commented: “It is fantastic to be promoting the diversity and energy efficiency of the slow cooker, being able to create cost-effective healthy meals, enabling residents of Northumberland, especially those in the more isolated areas to save money on cooking for the family.
“Our slow cooker ‘roadshow’ will be extending its reach this year into other areas in the North of England. The Warm Hubs and Pop-Up Hubs have had an incredible response in the local community, many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who work with us to support and develop the scheme across the county”.
Fuel poverty occurs when a household income is too low for people to keep their homes warm at a reasonable cost. Those most likely to live in fuel poverty include older people, young families and those on lower than average incomes.
The latest figures suggest that 3.66 million people in the UK live in fuel poverty. It costs on average £543 a year more for households living in fuel poverty not connected to gas to stay warm, compared to other households.
Terms and Conditions
- This prize promotion is open to all UK residents (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), except for anyone directly connected with the planning or administration of the prize promotion (including Northern Gas Networks and their immediate families).
5. To enter, send your slow cooker recipe and photograph of your finished dish to slowstew@northerngas.co.uk or post to:
Slow Stew Competition
FAO Communications Team
Northern Gas Networks,
Thorpe Park Business Park,
1100 Century Way,
Colton,
Leeds,
LS15 8TU
by Friday 28th February 2020, include a full name, home address, contact number and email address.
- Entries that are incomplete, lost, mislaid, damaged, corrupted, delayed, wrongly delivered, or not received for whatever reason will not be accepted. Any comments that we consider (in our absolute discretion) to be vulgar, offensive, indecent, racist, copied, offensive, cruel or fraudulent, or infringe on the rights or others will be immediately removed.
- The entry instructions form part of the rules. By entering, you agree to accept and be bound by the rules.
- Everyone who meets the entry criteria will be entered into the competition for consideration.
- There will be one entry per person. No third party or bulk entries. If it becomes apparent that either a participant or household is using any means to circumvent this condition such as, and without limitation, multiple email addresses, fraudulently falsifying data, acting fraudulently or dishonestly in the opinion of the promoter or otherwise acting in violation of these terms, these participants will be disqualified and any prize entitlement will be void.
- One winner will be selected, and their entry, name and hometown will be shared with respective local press, national press and on Northern Gas Networks’ social media channels. Consent is withdrawable at any time, however failure to provide permission for Northern Gas Networks to publish this information will result in removal from the competition.
- Entries must be received by the time specified in these terms and conditions to be in with a chance of winning. All competition entries received after the time specified are automatically disqualified and deleted.
- All entries (excluding the winners) will be deleted after 90 days.
- The prize for the winner is a 6L Cookworks slow cooker and essential kitchen utensils including a set of 3 polypropylene chopping boards, a stainless steel peeler, a dishwasher safe ladle, a wooden spoon, a spatula and some mini measure spoons (worth £42 RRP) plus a hamper of locally sourced ingredients to make a range of delicious slow-cooked recipes.
14. There is no cash or alternative to the prize stated and we cannot send the prize to anyone other than the named winner. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and cannot be resold. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for an alternative one of the same or higher value.
15. The winner will be notified via email or telephone.
16. If a prize is not claimed within two days of that winner being notified, the prize will be redrawn and awarded to a new winner. The Promoter does not accept any responsibility if you are not able to take up the prize.
17. We reserve the right to cancel, amend, withdraw, terminate or temporarily suspend this promotion for whatever reason, with no liability to any entrants or third parties but if this happens we will use all reasonable endeavours to avoid consumer disappointment. - Insofar as is permitted by law, the Promoter, its agents or distributors will not in any circumstances be responsible or liable to compensate the winner or accept any liability for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring as a result of taking up the prize except where it is caused by the negligence of the Promoter, its agents or distributors or that of their employees. Your statutory rights are not affected.
19. The promoter’s decision is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into.
20. As part of the introduction of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) we have updated our Privacy Notices. These Privacy Notices set out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed. The Promoter will only process your personal information as set out in the Privacy Notice: https://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/legal-information/. By entering into this competition and providing us with your information, you agree to these terms and conditions and our Privacy Notices. The Promotor is only using the personal data of the entrants to administer the competition on the basis that it is necessary for entering or performing a Contract.
21. The Promoter is: Northern Gas Networks, Thorpe Park Business Park, 1100 Century Way, Colton, Leeds, LS15 8TU.