Older people urged to access help to keep their homes warm
News from our partners Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin
A local charity, which supports older people, is urging those aged 60+ to access help when it comes to keeping warm in their homes.
With the recent temperatures plummeting, keeping warm this winter is a huge issue for many homeowners in Shropshire, warns Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin. Many people live in poorly-insulated houses which are not on the main gas grid and are therefore expensive to heat. This can have shocking consequences, resulting in over 285 older people dying every winter in Shropshire from cold-related causes.
There is help out there. Keep Shropshire Warm is a partnership between Shropshire Council and Marches Energy Agency. Shropshire residents can access free energy advice on bills and suppliers as well as grants towards insolation and even boiler replacements and heating upgrades. Marches Energy Agency is also working with Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin to provide free Home Energy Checks for the over 60s to help make homes warmer and save money on heating bills.
Winter Warmth campaign 2018
Phil Newcombe, Project Manager of Marches Energy Agency, said:
“The people I visit are finding the Home Energy Checks an interesting and enjoyable opportunity to think about how their homes work for them. Some people have been keen to change energy providers or tariffs, others have benefitted from draught proofing of doors and windows. Other householders have needed help with installing new heating systems and insulation or urgent action on damp and mould or fuel debts.’’
Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK STW, said:
“The Home Energy Check only takes an hour. We are not trying to sell anything, we simply want to offer impartial advice about how to reduce your energy bills and make your home as energy efficient as possible. We’ve had a brilliant response but we have until the end of March when the funding comes to an end and we want to visit around 20 more homes before the spring, so please do pick up the phone and talk to us.”
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is also running two other campaigns to combat loneliness and support older people in the winter months. February is Wear It Woolly month where the local charity encourages people to wear something woolly for a day and donate £1 to the charity. The Surviving Winter Grant Scheme is another great way to donate to the local charity, if you can manage without your winter fuel payment, donate it to Age UK STW who will pass it on to someone who desperately needs it.
If you would like to find out more call Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on 01743 233123, or Marches Energy Agency on 0800 112 3743.
Further information
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is a local charity which has been working tirelessly for over 67 years to make life better for older people across the whole of Shropshire.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin offers a range of services for older people in the county. These include: Information and Advice, Day Centres, dementia support, the Help at Home Service, volunteer befriending visitors, Home from Hospital services, Pub Clubs, Living Well activities, Benefits Advice, and Advocacy on behalf of older people.
Last year over 100,000 volunteer hours were given to support older people, ranging from helping people to fill in benefits forms, supporting people in our 40 Day Centres, visiting isolated older people at home, to acting as receptionists in our Shrewsbury office.
As part of our ‘No one should have No one’ campaign, we are raising money and recruiting volunteers to increase services such as befriending and social activities that reduce isolation and loneliness among older people in Shropshire.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is based in Shrewsbury and in Telford. The Shrewsbury office is open from 10.00am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday, 01743 233123. Our office at Meeting Point House in Telford is open every morning, 01952 216018. Further information about our local services is available on our website www.ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk
