Funds to keep you warm this winter

A WARM front will be moving into homes across Yeovil and Somerset this winter after a successful bid for Government cash.

Somerset County Council has secured £150,000 of grant from the Department of Health’s ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People’ fund to help people living in cold homes or struggling with heating bills.

Cllr Christine Lawrence, the council's community services spokesman, said: “This is good news for people struggling to heat their homes this winter.

“Having a warm and dry home is essential, especially for older people and families with young children and people with disabilities.

“We secured this funding working closely with the five district councils, the NHS and more than a dozen community and voluntary organisations and it’s great to see us all working closely together to address such an important issue.”

Voluntary sector organisations will take a lead in delivering the Warm Homes, Healthy People projects across Somerset. Projects now being undertaken thanks to this funding include:

• Grants to community groups to provide essential services to the most vulnerable people in our communities this winter, including community transport and social contact as well as information about keeping warm and ‘winter packs’ for the vulnerable.

• A pilot project for including extreme temperature sensors in the existing community alarm scheme.

• Interest-free loans to help people top up their heating oil tanks.

• Extension of a free home insulation offer until April.

Carolyn Arscott, health promotion manager from NHS Somerset, said: “Cold weather and cold homes are associated with an increase in illness and injury, including heart attacks, strokes, lung conditions and influenza.

''There are lots of things we can do to stay healthy in winter and the grant projects are a real bonus to support people who are most vulnerable to the effects of cold.

''For many a flu jab is essential and available free for older people, those with long-term health conditions, carers and pregnant women. In addition eating well, keeping active and dressing to keep warm will all help you keep well this winter.”

Tags:
News.