Help to keep people warm and safe following investment from Leeds City
Council has been promoted as part of national Cold Homes Week this February. It
is part of wider help for residents to Stay Winter Wise, from a range of
organisations across Leeds delivering help to residents throughout winter.
Local community groups and agencies have had the chance to bid for
thousands of pounds worth of Leeds City Council Public Health funding to run a
variety of projects aimed at helping vulnerable people during winter and
reducing social isolation.
Over 30 projects have been funded by the scheme, which Leeds Community
Foundation is administering on behalf of the council. They include clubs and
activities, home visits, befriending schemes and help for rough sleepers.
As with successful campaigns in previous years, new and extended
services to help residents over winter are being funded by LCC Public Health,
alongside Clinical Commissioning Groups.
Councillor Lisa Mulherin,
chair of Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board, said:
“Making sure people in Leeds who need help most get it is a top priority
for us. Our investment in helping in people to keep warm means that a whole
range of illness and injury can be prevented. No one enjoys seeing their fuel
bill come through the door, so if we can help vulnerable people to save money
by taking practical measures to keep safe and warm through the winter, we can
improve wellbeing and reduce illness.
“We’ve arranged briefing sessions where Leeds City Council and Big
Energy Saving Week can connect community workers and other interested frontline
staff involved in Winter Wellbeing activity with others working in their
locality, increase knowledge of city-wide support services, as well as learning
how to take action and save money on utility bills.”
Councillor Peter Gruen, executive
member for neighbourhoods, planning and personnel said:
“We are determined to do what we can to ensure no one needs to be cold
this winter. We have a warm homes service, managed by Care and Repair Leeds,
which will service or repair heating systems and repair or replace broken
boilers where a member of the household is vulnerable or suffers from a cold
related illness. This service is available to homeowners and private tenants.”
Councillor
Mark Dobson, Leeds City Council’s executive member for cleaner, stronger and
safer communities, said:
“Thanks
to replacement boilers and insulation being installed with Wrap Up Leeds ECO last
year we have successfully made sure over 1,100 households can now heat their
home for less in Leeds. The new Better Homes Leeds will make a practical
improvement as we tackle ‘hard to treat’ in specific areas in south Leeds by
providing 250 vouchers to help people insulate attic rooms under the
government’s Green Deal Communities Fund and
the Better Homes team will be contacting those households that can apply soon.”
Groundwork Leeds have also arranged for a ‘Green Doctor’ scheme to do
extra home visits for low income households - including elderly and those with
young children - providing practical face to face advice on how to reduce
energy bills and maximise income. Where appropriate, they also provide basic
energy efficiency measures such as draught-proofing, reflective radiator
panels, pipe lagging.
There is a wide range of information available the council’s Stay Winter
Wise webpage, including advice on how to stay warm at home, how to reduce
energy bills, claiming the warm homes discount, winter travel arrangements and
even advice on flu jabs:
For
further information contact:
Phil Morcom
Communications team
Leeds City Council
4th Floor West, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR
Mobile: 07891 276270
Tel: 0113 224 3602
www.leeds.gov.uk