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Agency secures grant aid for emergency winter packs
30 January
Elderly and vulnerable people in the Scarborough borough can now
get help to stay warm this winter thanks to cash secured by the
council’s Home Improvement Agency.
It successfully bid for more than £20,000 from the Department of
Health and is using the money to make up emergency packs that will
help those in most need stay safe and warm if temperatures
plummet.
A pack contains a torch, blanket, flask, hat, gloves and scarf
that can be used in the case of an emergency or when heating fails,
as well as a carbon monoxide detector for the home. A small fund is
also available to help with heating repairs and boiler
servicing.
There are currently 100 packs available free of charge through
the Home Improvement Agency and are being issued on a first-come
first-served basis in conjunction with a free home safety
check.
They are carried out through a Well Being Service partnership
between the borough council, North Yorkshire County Council and the
North Yorkshire and York NHS Primary Care Trust.
Cllr Bill Chatt, the Cabinet Member with responsibility for
housing, property maintenance, public health and sustainability
hopes this free initiative will reduce the levels of deaths that
are due to vulnerable people living in cold housing.
“Severe cold spells like those we suffered last winter can have
a real impact on everyday life, especially for those people who are
already vulnerable,” he said. “Ensuring homes are safe and warm is
one of the best ways to protect our vulnerable residents from the
effects of the winter - we hope our residents will take full
advantage of the support available.”
Scarborough Borough Council Senior Home Improvement Agency
Officer, Lynn Williams, said: “The packs are available to a number
of groups, including those aged over 75, people who are frail,
those with heart disease or respiratory illness, people with severe
mental illness or dementia, those who suffer from arthritis, people
in fuel poverty or those who live in deprived circumstances.
“We also now offer a free home safety check for residents in the
borough, to help those in most need keep their independence and as
well as advice, can offer free practical assistance such as
installing grab rails to prevent falls.
“We are keen that those people in rural areas also feel included
in these schemes – last year it was significantly colder in places
than on the coast and in some cases, elderly or vulnerable people
don’t have the network of family and friends around them to spot
problems or offer help.”
Elderly or vulnerable people who would like an emergency pack or
assistance from the Home Improvement Agency can call 01723 383635
or 01723 232531, or email hia@scarborough.cgov.uk