ADVICE ON KEEPING BRIGG HOUSEHOLDS WARM THIS WINTER

FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

Around 11,500 people in North Lincolnshire spend more than 10 per cent of their household income on fuel to keep warm every year. This is known as fuel poverty.

Keeping warm over the winter months has many benefits and can help prevent colds and flu, or more serious health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression. The risk of ending up with one or more of these conditions increases if you are:

• Aged under five or 65 plus
• On a low income and can’t afford heating
• Have a long-term health condition such as heart, lung or kidney disease
• You are disabled

Coun Rob Waltham (Brigg & Wolds), chair of the North Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “There’s lots of help out there so people should not feel alone. In particular, for those who are struggling financially, so it is important that they get in touch with the organisations that can help them.

“It is vital that we all keep warm this winter, particularly the vulnerable. Please keep an eye on your elderly or vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours. The winter months’ are when they are likely to need your help most. So just keep an eye out for them, pop round to ensure they are OK or if they need anything.

“Sadly, many people are too proud to ask for help, but there are lots of people in a similar situation. By working with the relevant organisations, we are able to provide the support these people need.”

Public Health at North Lincolnshire council is issuing lots of helpful advice to ensure residents stay warm this winter – from finding out what support is available to families on low incomes, to making your home more energy efficient and warm.

Tips on keeping warm:

• Try to keep your house warm. Keep your main living room at around 18 to 21 degrees Celsius. If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep. You can use a hot water bottle or electric blanket (but not both at the same time) to keep warm while you’re in bed.
• Eat well. Try to ensure you have regular hot meals and drinks throughout the day and keep active in the home if you can. Food is a vital source of energy that helps keep the body warm.
• Wrap up warm, inside and out. Layer your clothing to stay warm and wear shoes with a good grip if you need to go outside. If you have a heart or respiratory problem, if possible, stay inside during a cold spell.
• Check on elderly neighbours or relatives to ensure they’re safe and well. Ensure they’re warm enough, especially at night, and have stocks of food and medicines so they don’t need to go out during very cold weather. If you’re worried about a relative or an elderly neighbour, contact your local council or ring Age UK helpline on 0800 00 99 66.
• You may also be able to claim financial and practical help with heating your home. Grants available include the Winter Fuel Payments (WFPs), where you could claim up to £300 if you were born before 5 July 1952. For more details on WFPs, call 08459 151515 (8.30am to 4.30pm) Monday to Friday, textphone 0845 601 5613 or visit www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment.
• Cold Weather Payments may be available if you receive certain benefits or have a child who is disabled or under the age of five. To find out more, contact JobCentre Plus or visit www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payments or the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898.
• The Energy Saving Trust has advice on how to reduce bills and make your home more energy efficient. It can also advise on grants and schemes available around the UK. For more details, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call 0300 123 1234 (9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm Saturday).

Local initiatives for affordable warmth:

Get advice: not everyone will identify themselves as being in fuel poverty, but many will be anxious about home energy and fuel bills. To obtain the best local advice, contact North Lincolnshire Council on 01724 297000 or local Citizens Advice Bureau on 01724 870941. You could also call Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 or the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.

How to improve heating and insulation:

Taking advantage of local and national insulation schemes is the most cost-effective way of lowering your bills and keeping your home warm. Contact North Lincolnshire Council to request an inquiry form and find out what schemes are available to assist homeowners and private rented tenants with heating and insulation. Extra assistance is also available from energy suppliers for vulnerable, low-income households and those in receipt of eligible benefits.

For vulnerable people who have a long term illness and need assistance to fund and install heating and insulation measures in their home, the following help is available:

Warmth scheme run by Npower. Contact your energy supplier for additional help.
Npower Health through Warmth Scheme – 0845 070 2809
Npower Spreading Warmth Tariff – 0808 172 6999
British Gas Energy Trust – 01733 421021
E.ON Caring Energy Fund – 0800 051 1480

Contact your supplier:

You could be saving up to £200 off your energy bills by shopping around for a different supplier, particularly if you have never previously switched. Contact the energy supplier and ask them what the cheapest deal is that they can offer you:

British Gas – 0800 048 0202
E.ON Energy – 0333 202 4650
EDF Energy – 0800 068 8251
Scottish Power – 0845 2700 700
Scottish and Southern Energy – 0800 072 7201

This message is part of a series of winter health messages. To find out more, visit www.northlincs.gov.uk/winterhealth.