Thousands Living in Cold Homes Get Extra Support This Winter (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Thousands Living in Cold Homes Get Extra Support This Winter

January 4, 2012 5:41 PM

The Coalition Government has announced councils and charities across England will receive £20m of funding to provide vital help to vulnerable people living in cold homes.

In Oxfordshire £160,000 will be spent providing practical support to people in the county who are in most need. The money could also be used to buy emergency electric blankets and fuel vouchers to cope with extra winter demand. There will also be a media messaging service giving people the consistent advice and help they need.

There will be a drive to extend existing networks of volunteers, by skilling people up to help and support their neighbours/peers so that there will be better networks for this year and a sustainable resource for the future.

Thanks to the Liberal Democrats, the £20m Warm Housing, Healthy People Fund will ensure 10,000 homes in England will be warmer this winter. Councils will be focusing on elderly people, families with young children and people with disabilities who do not qualify for existing support to heat their homes.

Commenting, Cllr. Zoé Patrick, Liberal Democrat Leader said:

"As a Liberal Democrat, I am delighted the Coalition will be protecting the most vulnerable this winter.

"Providing help and practical support to elderly people or families with young children will make a real difference to those who find it difficult to heat their homes in poor weather.

"This could ultimately save lives, so I am pleased the money is available now so it can make an immediate difference to those in need."

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Health Minister, Paul Burstow said:

"As a Liberal Democrat I want to do the right thing and protect the health and well-being of those who are most at risk.

"We know that time is of the essence when it comes to protecting people over winter, which is why the Coalition has released millions of pounds of funding now so that support is given as soon as possible."

Notes to Editors:

The money is available to local councils now, and projects will have to deliver on their Warm Homes, Healthy People bids by March 31, 2012.

In 2009/10, the cost of emergency admissions due to falls on snow and ice was estimated at £42m. In England alone there is a 20% increase in deaths during the winter, when an extra 27,000 extra people die compared with the summer.

For more information, please see the Department of Health website:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2011/12/snow-wardens-winter-workers/