Unwanted fuel grants could help vulnerable

WILTSHIRE Community Foundation is asking pensioners who do not need their winter fuel payment to donate it to help prevent vulnerable people from dying in the cold weather.

The foundation is running its Surviving Winter campaign for the third year. Last year it raised £70,000 and supported 338 households in Wiltshire.

It asks pensioners who can afford to live comfortably to donate their Government winter fuel payment to the foundation, who will then distribute it to elderly and vulnerable people who need help to pay their fuel bills.

Full Article on Gazette & Herald

Keep Warm Keep Well: Information for over 60s, low-income families and people living with a disability

Public Health England have published their leaflet which gives advice on staying well in cold weather, covering issues such as financial help, healthy lifestyle, flu jabs and heating.

View the leaflet

British Red Cross offers healthy homes checks to older and vulnerable people in Wiltshire

Older and vulnerable people in the Wiltshire area are being encouraged to get in touch with the British Red Cross for practical help and information on staying warm and healthy this winter.

The Red Cross has set up a dedicated telephone hotline so people can arrange a free Healthy Homes Assessment as part of a project funded by the Health Protection Agency’s Warm Homes Healthy People Fund taking place from now until the end of March. The friendly one-hour visit by a trained staff member or volunteer is aimed at improving the safety and well-being of people this winter by giving information on staying warm, falls and fire prevention and tackling social isolation.

Each person visited will also receive a free Healthy Homes pack containing essentials for coping with the winter weather, power cuts and other home issues and an information pack with details of other agencies, advice services and grants people may be eligible for.

Anyone living in Wiltshire who thinks they might benefit can get in touch, regardless of age. People can contact the Red Cross directly but relatives, friends or neighbours can also get in touch on someone’s behalf.

Heather Lowe, Red Cross development manager for health and social care in Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, says: “Winter is a tough time for many older and vulnerable people, particularly those living alone or struggling to get by on a pension or low income.

“The Healthy Homes project aims to address some of the common issues people face, such as how to stay warm during the winter months, avoiding accidents such as falls and fires and reducing social isolation.

“If you think we could help you, please get in touch. We’d also encourage people to think about relatives, friends and neighbours who might benefit and ask them if it’s ok to call on their behalf. Our staff and volunteers will deal sensitively with everyone who makes contact.”

For more information or to arrange a visit call 0117 3012611 or email H&SCWAG@redcross.org.uk, putting ‘Healthy Homes’ in the subject line.

For more information about the Red Cross please visit redcross.org.uk

Grants to help Wiltshire residents through Winter

People in Wiltshire will be helped to stay warm and well this winter thanks to a number of projects which will be funded following a successful partnership bid by Wiltshire Council for more than £240,000 of government funding.

The council has been awarded £240,506 by the Department of Health as part of the Warm Homes, Healthy People fund, to deliver a Winter Warmth campaign across the county. The money will be spent on projects within the community, working with partners to support those most affected by the cold weather.

Full Article on Wiltshire Times

Wiltshire Warmth: Want to know more about how to stay warm this Winter?

Save money on your heating bills
For free or discounted loft and cavity wall insulation call 0800 512 012 for Wiltshire Council’s warm and well scheme or go to www.warmandwell.co.uk or ring 01722 434349 for Wiltshire Council’s home energy adviser.

Advice on how to make your home warmer and to access grants
Ridgeway Care & Repair (part of Aster Living) can offer you advice on how to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient.

Get information on heating or insulation grants that could be available to you. If you have low income or a health condition the work may even be free. Ridgeway can also help arrange private works with reputable trusted contractors. Call for more information on (01380) 829009, textphone 07720 700200 or email wcr@asterliving.co.uk

Benefit advice
For advice on help with benefits and paying your fuel bills, contact Wiltshire Citizens Advice Bureau on 0844 375 2775 or 0300 456 8375.

Winter weather alerts to be introduced to protect elderly

Winter weather alerts aimed at helping vulnerable people during cold snaps are to be introduced in England.

Agencies such as the NHS and social services will get the Met Office alerts and will then have to take action to ensure people are safe in their homes.

An estimated 27,000 extra people die every winter, a fifth more than during the summer.

Extra cash is also being used to help people keep homes warm, but some question whether this will be enough.

Watch the video report on BBC News