Halton Borough Council has partnered with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to offer affordable warmth information to Halton residents as part of its Safe and Well scheme.
‘Safe and Well’ visits are offered to Halton residents over 65 and includes advice and signposting on slips, trips and falls, bowel cancer screening, smoking cessation and alcohol reduction.
From this month, information about heating your home affordably and effectively will also be included.
Halton Borough Council and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service have worked together to devise a short set of screening questions to ascertain if the resident is at risk and needs help or advice on heating their home, paying fuel bills, home insulation, etc.
If required, the Fire Service can refer the resident to Energy Projects Plus, a charity, which can help with advice on how to reduce your energy bills, getting a good deal and finding a new energy supplier.
• This is part of HBC’s Affordable Warmth strategy
Halton Borough Council’s Executive Board Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Marie Wright, said: “A cold home can lead to and aggravate many health conditions, so keeping your home warm in winter is important if you are an older person, have young children or a serious health condition.
“Our affordable warmth strategy aims to decrease fuel poverty in Halton through increasing awareness of local help and support for residents who are struggling to pay bills, heat their homes and stay warm in winter.
“We’re delighted that Cheshire Fire Service has added affordable warmth screening to its Safe and Well scheme, which has already helped many of our older and vulnerable residents by referring to local health services.
“This latest addition will help many more who are at risk of falling into fuel poverty, which can in turn have a terrible effect on a person’s health and wellbeing.”
Peter Owen, Chief Executive Energy Projects Plus, added: “Keeping warm in your home is extremely important to your health, but not something enjoyed by everyone. The inclusion of affordable warmth screening in the fantastic Safe and Well programme means we can provide practical help to people in need and reduce the level of fuel poverty across Cheshire”.