Lifestyle

Keep warm this winter – free advice

Free boiler checks and advice on heating your home cost-effectively are available for vulnerable people living in Peterborough thanks to the Winter Warmth Partnership and Peterborough City Council.

The scheme is available to anyone living in privately-owned or rented homes in the city, with an annual household income of below £26,000. It is geared particularly for people aged 65 and over, or those with a disability or with children under five.

A special hotline has been set up on 01733 863860 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm), where trained advisors are on hand to offer advice and arrange for the services to be carried out by one of Peterborough City Council’s contractors.

The team can also make small repairs to the boiler and will follow up the appointment in 12 months to check everything is still working correctly.

The free repairs are part of Peterborough’s Winter Warmth Partnership, which has been funded for the second year in a row by the Department of Health’s Warm Homes, Healthy People Fund.  Last year, more than 400 people in the city accessed services and benefits.

The partnership comprises Peterborough City Council, green charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT), the Salvation Army, Age UK, Public Health’s Healthy Lifestyles Team and Adult Social Care.

Winter Warmth project officers can also carry out free energy checks on homes to make sure draughts are excluded, heating is effectively controlled by timers and home insulation installed.
Their main aim is to raise awareness of the impact of cold homes on health and wellbeing and the services which can support vulnerable people in winter months.  They can also provide heaters on loan and shopping trips to vulnerable older people in cold snaps to help reduce exposure to cold weather and the risk of falls.

For more information call the Winter Warmth hotline on 01733 863860.

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