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

Surviving Winter: Grants to Help

Are you an older person who spends more than 10% of your income on fuel. Do you need additional support to heat your home and eat properly in the cold weather?

A Surviving Winter grant may help. You must live in Wiltshire or Swindon Borough to apply.

A grant of £125 could assist you with:

· Paying your fuel bill
· Purchasing oil
· Purchasing an oil heater
· Purchase of coal
· Topping up your electricity
· Purchasing a pair of warm slippers and a blanket

Depending on your circumstances you may be able to apply for additional support and we may also consider applications from other individuals in need who are disabled or suffering extreme hardship.

If you would like to make an application please contact:

CAB Wiltshire 0844 375 2775 or 0300 456 8375 for mobiles
CAB Swindon 0844 4994114
Age UK Wiltshire 01380 735527
Age UK Salisbury & District 01722 335425
Wiltshire Good Neighbours 01380 722475
Parks Volunteer Centre 01793 529938
Shine in the Community 01722 427123
Wiltshire Credit Unions 01380 722475 Swindon Credit Unions 01793 529938
CLIP 01793 723687

The Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon working in partnership with all of the above Partners.
Registered charity number: 1123126

Tips for staying safe and warm this Winter

UNISON Welfare - winter fuel payments

UNISON Welfare are offering one off payments of £50 to help low paid members (single members earning less than £18,000 a year and couples earnings less than £23,000 total) the opportunity to claim for payment of £50 per household to help with fuel payments this year.
Applicants must not have more than £3,000 in savings.
For more information click this link to download a flyer -
click here

Fuel costs – reduced rates for low income or vulnerable customers The Warm Home Discount Scheme will give an automatic £120 rebate on electricity bills for this winter and the next three winters to those who qualify under the scheme.To qualify people need to be in receipt of the guarantee credit of Pension Credit on 11 September 2011. The Department for Work and Pensions will try to make sure you get this discount automatically, but should you miss out you will have to ask for the discount from your electricity supplier. Some electricity customers who don't get the guarantee part of Pension Credit may also get the discount, but it will be up to your supplier to decide who qualifies. read more about the scheme

Information on how to save energy and in turn lower your fuel payments is available on Wiltshire CAB's website.

The Warm & Well Scheme
The Warm and Well scheme began its work in October 2001, working throughout Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire to ensure as many people as possible are kept warm each winter, by making home owners and privately renting tenants homes more comfortable to live in and fuel efficient. The Warm and Well scheme is also now available to residents in Wiltshire
All homeowners and privately renting tenants in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are entitled to at least a partial grant towards insulation. All grants are subject to availability and survey, which is completely free and no obligation. All surveys and work are carried out by the accredited installer, Domestic & General Insulation Ltd.
There are grants available for:

• Cavity wall insulation
• Loft insulation

In certain Local Authority areas there are grants for A-rated boilers and central heating systems. The 'Do I qualify?' section shows what measures are available in different areas and what the qualifying criteria is.
Warm and Well is managed by Severn Wye Energy Agency on behalf of the Local Authorities in Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. We work together with the insulation company, Domestic and General Ltd, to provide information on home insulation, energy efficiency and how to claim a grant towards energy efficiency measures. For more information contact the Energy Saving Trust advice centre and ask about Warm & Well on 0800 512 012.

Help With Heating Your Home
What are Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments? Find out if you qualify, and how to claim, on DirectGov's information page.

Self-help for how to drive in snowy conditions
Wiltshire Council has prepared some tips and safety information for preparing and coping in snow. Please remember to only make journeys if completely necessary when conditions get bad.