Offering free, impartial, and confidential energy advice to anybody aged 50 and over living in Lincoln & South Lincolnshire. The Wrap Around Service offers home energy assessments, tariff switching advice, help applying for warm home discounts, instillation of free energy saving devices and much more.
The service offers free support and advice to individuals regarding their energy bills and keeping warm and safe in their home. The team also help with benefits advice and income maximisation, Warm Home Discounts, Priority Service Registers and their website hosts an array of hints and tips on how to keep your home warmer for less.
Service users are also provided a Winter Warmth Support Pack which includes items such as draughtproofing stips, LED lightbulbs, blanket, vacuum flask, radiator reflector panels and more.
Contact: 0800 304 7159
Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureau can provide free information on grants and benefits, including fuel vouchers, warm home discounts, cold weather payments and more.
For information on paying bills, fuel costs, oil heating, warm home discounts, cold weather payments and more please visit yourDistrict Council’s website below:
Warm Spaces have been created to support Lincolnshire residents through the colder months, providing a safe environment to keep warm. Residents can gather, socialise, enjoy a book, have a hot drink, and know that there is always a place for them to feel safe.
There are numerous Warm Spaces across the county many of which can be found via the integrative map, which can be accessed by clicking here: WarmWelcomeCampaign
If you can’t find a centre near you on the link above, it may be that your council hasn’t signed up to the website, but they’re still providing this service. These councils can be found below.
Various organisations and charities are coming together to provide discounted or in some cases free, hot drinks and food.
Asda is offering the over 60’s soup and unlimited tea and coffees for £1 in any of its 205 cafes all day and every day until February 2024.
Look out for lunch clubs run by organisations such as Age UK and RVS. The Salvation Army serve breakfast and hot cooked meals alongside soup, toast and hot drinks for anyone that asks. Check out what is available near where you live.
Top Ten Tips for keeping yourself and your home warm this winter
Be active: Moving around and keeping active will help you to stay warm and fit. Whether you go for a walk or take part in an activity, it’s good to keep moving.
Wrap up: The best way to keep warm is to wear layers of clothes. If you’re heading out, make sure you wear extra layers. Cold weather can make some health problems worse and even lead to serious complications, especially if you are 65 or older, or if you have a long-term health condition.
Heat your home: Keep your home at a steady temperature and close the curtains at night to help keep the cold out. Use draught excluders, LED light bulbs and radiator reflectors if possible. During cold periods keep your windows closed at night. If you have a central heating boiler, consider getting it serviced before the cold weather arrives.
Have a grab bag: It is a good idea to have basic items together in a ‘grab bag’ including medicines, water, torch, mobile phone, batteries or power-bank, copies of important documents and change of clothes. If you need to leave your home quickly or your power and water are disrupted, you can quickly grab the bag and go to safety.
Contact your energy provider: inform them of your diagnosis and whether you are having to use more power to keep warm or for equipment. They might reduce the tariff you are on.
Contact your Pharmacist: Your local pharmacy can provide good health advice on a range of minor ailments and can give you tips on keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet.
Check your heating system: A cold home is one that cannot be economically maintained at temperatures of 18⁰C to 21⁰C. Even when it is -1⁰C outside, the heating system should be capable of maintaining these temperatures inside your home.
Be more energy efficient: If a household spends more than 10% of their income on heating they are classed as being in fuel poverty. If you are able to make your home more energy efficient it will cost you less to heat it, meaning you can keep warm and save money. Find out more ways to save energy in your home.
Check for eligibility for grants: Private tenants and homeowners may be able to get a grant for insulation and possibly heating improvements. Insulating your home will make it cheaper to keep warm.
Speak to your landlord: If you rent your home and think it is too cold, you can ask your landlord to make improvements. If they refuse you can contact your local District Council for advice.
