AN AWARENESS project targeting 1,200 homes in Barry’s town centre has seen almost 450 households with the message in the bag.

The Castleland Renewal project last year saw a combined force of Wales & West Utilities, South Wales Police – PCSO’s, sergeants and a community engagement officer, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the Vale Council’s environmental and regeneration team and Care and Repair hone in on the neighbourhood.

The team aimed to promote carbon monoxide poisoning awareness in an operation lasting a number of weeks.

Castleland residents were sent a flyer telling them of CO awareness week and one week prior to the project residents were sent a newsletter including home safety articles.

Each volunteer was partnered with a person from a different organisation to spread the key message of CO poisoning and each organisation also had their own separate safety message.

Messages focused on home security, anti-social behaviour, alley gates, rogue traders, Christmas safety tips, fire safety, Christmas lights, home modifications for elderly residents, rights for rented property, and the warm home assistance scheme which promotes potential funding towards a new gas supply for those of a pensionable age, on means tested benefits or chronically sick/ registered as disabled.

Cerys Canning, Wales & West Utilities stakeholder engagement assistant, said: “We would speak to the residents either on the doorstep or in most cases be invited in, where we explained the dangers of CO poisoning whilst talking them through a goody bag made up of safety leaflets and a CO alarm. The CO alarm was set up for the resident and then advised on where best to place it. Residents could then discuss any other issues they had regarding their home or the area.

“We developed a comprehensive strategy to address the safety risk posed by CO. Our campaign, which aims to successfully raise awareness, inspire behaviour change, influence policy and support technical innovation, has won a number of accolades including 2014 Business in the Community Wales Responsible Business Building Stronger Communities Award. To date we have distributed over 10,000 free audible CO alarms.

“Barry was targeted through our work with the Welsh Government Task and Finish Group. The renewal area is already a priority for the local council and following a number of CO-related incident reports in the area the project provided a fantastic opportunity to get involved. The project was held during Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week and Home Safety Week. CO poisoning kills 40 people and injures a further 4,000 every year. In the last 12 months we received 30 Carbon Monoxide related incidents in Barry alone.”

She added: “The event was very successful. Most of the residents gave positive feedback on the day and were grateful for the service. We are currently in the process of evaluating the intervention. Before the project a member of staff from the Vale of Glamorgan Council visited the homes and conducted a survey in the area to assess the baseline awareness of residents around CO poisoning. In the upcoming weeks a number of homes will be visited again and we will measure their awareness levels now. Once all of the data has been collated and a report will sent a report during April/ May to show the change in the residents’ awareness levels.”

PC Nicola Owen said: “We support all projects out there in our communities and work hard actively providing reassurance and support to not only to victims of crime within our communities but also to vulnerable and elderly people.

“I think it goes to show that as well as proactively fighting crime our remit reaches far beyond this.”