Cash available to vulnerable people to keep warm
Thursday, 12th January 2012.
A one-off grant to help vulnerable people survive low winter temperatures is available now to St Edmundsbury residents.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council is working with Suffolk County Council and other partners across the county to tackle winter fuel poverty with a £265,000 grant from the Department of Health’s ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People’ fund.
The cash will be used to fund a number of initiatives, which are subject to eligibility.
A special telephone line, 08456 037 686, has been set up to deal with enquiries and can offer:
* Free information, advice and support to anyone struggling to keep warm this winter;
* Installation of free community alarms fitted with extreme temperature sensors in vulnerable people’s homes, along with a befriending service;
* Free temporary heater loan scheme;
* Free emergency boiler repairs for vulnerable households through the Age UK ‘Surviving Winter’ Appeal and funding through the Warm Homes project - groups to benefit will include the over 60s, families on a low income, families with children and young people with learning disabilities;
* Free insulation and small energy efficiency improvement jobs including draught proofing;
* Free independent energy surveys in the home to help households struggling to pay their energy bills by offering advice and providing help to install measures to save money and energy;
* Road shows run by Suffolk Acre to promote their good neighbour and community oil buying schemes.
Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, St Edmundsbury's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are urging anyone who has a vulnerable relative or neighbour to help them to find out more about what support and assistance might be available to them.
"The coldest months are yet to come and we need to get help in place ahead of the chill. The message is to call 08456 037 686 to stay warm.”
There are an estimated 7,000 households in fuel poverty in St Edmundsbury.
Cllr Colin Noble, Suffolk County Council’s portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: “It is a sad fact that in this day and age there are still a large number of people who cannot afford to sufficiently heat their homes.
"By working with our partners across the county we have been able to secure funding which will help these members of our communities. It is important that we do as much as we possibly can to ensure that everyone stays warm and well this winter.”
“The work we can support as a result of this funding will make a real difference to a significant number of people across the county and, while this is one-off funding, many of the initiatives will hopefully be maintained for future years.”
Further information is available from www.suffolk.gov.uk/warmhomes
St Edmundsbury Borough Council is working with Suffolk County Council and other partners across the county to tackle winter fuel poverty with a £265,000 grant from the Department of Health’s ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People’ fund.
The cash will be used to fund a number of initiatives, which are subject to eligibility.
A special telephone line, 08456 037 686, has been set up to deal with enquiries and can offer:
* Free information, advice and support to anyone struggling to keep warm this winter;
* Installation of free community alarms fitted with extreme temperature sensors in vulnerable people’s homes, along with a befriending service;
* Free temporary heater loan scheme;
* Free emergency boiler repairs for vulnerable households through the Age UK ‘Surviving Winter’ Appeal and funding through the Warm Homes project - groups to benefit will include the over 60s, families on a low income, families with children and young people with learning disabilities;
* Free insulation and small energy efficiency improvement jobs including draught proofing;
* Free independent energy surveys in the home to help households struggling to pay their energy bills by offering advice and providing help to install measures to save money and energy;
* Road shows run by Suffolk Acre to promote their good neighbour and community oil buying schemes.
Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, St Edmundsbury's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are urging anyone who has a vulnerable relative or neighbour to help them to find out more about what support and assistance might be available to them.
"The coldest months are yet to come and we need to get help in place ahead of the chill. The message is to call 08456 037 686 to stay warm.”
There are an estimated 7,000 households in fuel poverty in St Edmundsbury.
Cllr Colin Noble, Suffolk County Council’s portfolio holder for adult and community services, said: “It is a sad fact that in this day and age there are still a large number of people who cannot afford to sufficiently heat their homes.
"By working with our partners across the county we have been able to secure funding which will help these members of our communities. It is important that we do as much as we possibly can to ensure that everyone stays warm and well this winter.”
“The work we can support as a result of this funding will make a real difference to a significant number of people across the county and, while this is one-off funding, many of the initiatives will hopefully be maintained for future years.”
Further information is available from www.suffolk.gov.uk/warmhomes
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