Warm and Well’s team of Energy Advocates are putting together 250 free ‘carebags’ for South Gloucestershire residents at risk of being confined to cold homes this winter.
With heating bills on the rise, the risk of winter respiratory illnesses high and the increasingly cold weather, Warm and Well are providing free cosy home comforts alongside practical energy saving items and advice, to help people through this winter. The will be distributed via South Gloucestershire Council’s frontline services, Sirona Care & Health and local services such as foodbanks.
The bags include blankets, socks, gloves, hats, LED lightbulbs, a thermos flask, thermometers, top energy saving tips and meter and radiator keys, alongside other helpful items. Both individual and family-sized bags have been made available to suit the household’s needs.
Energy Advocate Mike Ellaby outlines how important simple strategies can be for coping with colder months. “The winter can be a worrying time for many people with homes that are expensive to heat – but it’s extremely important that we stay warm over this period. We hope that the freebies in these carebags will not only help people beat the cold – but remind them that Warm and Well care about their health and the warmth of their home at wintertime, and are here to help.”
The team have put together 100 to date and are distributing them to households with partners at Sirona Care & Health. Katie Rademaker an Active Ageing Health Visitor at Sirona said: “The bags are wonderful! We will be offering them to those we visit on behalf of the Energy Advocate team and we know they will be appreciated. We have already given some to the District Nursing team to share with people in their care.”
South Gloucestershire Council Cabinet Member for Adults and Housing Cllr Ben Stokes said: “It is so important to stay warm and well during the colder months, for your physical and mental health and wellbeing. Energy costs can be a concern for people, which is why Warm and Well are in place to offer free, independent advice to those who may be struggling with bills or want to know what they can do to keep warm while reducing their costs. I would encourage anyone worried about themselves or perhaps a neighbour or relative to get in touch with them to get help and information.”
The funding for the winter warmer packages has come from the Energy Redress fund, providing crucial support at a time when energy prices are rocketing.
Stay warm and well this winter, and call 0800 500 3076 or email advocate@severnwye.org.uk if you need help with your home energy or bills. Warm and Well is a home energy advice service delivered on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council.
