Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove set to make Winter warmer for over 65s

Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (WSBH) has just launched its Warm Homes programme, offering practical help and assistance to older people worried about keeping warm this Winter. The initiative helps people living in, or at risk of fuel poverty by offering free benefit reviews, home energy checks and warm homes packs, including a hot water bottle, blanket and socks.

The Warm Homes Programme is needed more than ever to help people affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic make their homes more energy efficient, meaning they can stay warm during the colder months. Through the programme last winter, Age UK WSBH secured additional benefits of over £675,000 for older people locally. This is money people were unaware they were entitled to, which enabled them to heat their homes without falling into poverty.

Free home energy checks are offered through Age UK WSBH’S handyperson service. The handyperson will assess the energy efficiency of a person’s home, give tips on how to save energy and where appropriate, install simple and practical energy efficiency measures such as draught proofing, low energy light bulbs and radiator reflector panels to help reduce energy bills. The charity also has some oil filled radiators and warmer homes packs to distribute.

Helen Rice, Chief Executive at Age UK WSBH said “People will be staying home much more this winter due to Coronavirus so this programme is needed more than ever. The sad reality is, that many older people’s homes are cold and money worries mean they are reluctant to use the heating.  We want people in this situation to turn to us.  There’s a whole range of practical help we can offer to potentially increase their income, improve their home and help people stay cosy as the temperature drops.”

The Warm Homes programme is funded by E.on, Avro Energy, Octopus Energy and Shell Energy. Last year it enabled Age UK’s brand partners nationally to install over 19,000 energy efficient measures in more than 3,800 older people’s homes, which helped keep their homes warm and their energy bills lower. Practical energy efficiency measures, such as radiator panels and draught proofing, were installed and are expected to save households almost £97,000 in total from annual fuel bills.

To find out more about the Warm Homes Programme, or to seek help to stay warm this winter, please contact Age UK  WSBH on 0800 019 1310 between 9am – 5pm or email information@ageukwestsussex.org.uk