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Southport
residents urged to put warmth and wellbeing on their agenda
FOLLOWING recent headlines
around the importance of improving warmth in the homes of vulnerable
people, a warmth scheme which is available to residents across
England and Wales, including Southport, is reminding people that
help is on hand for people who need it most.
npower Health Through Warmth works with a range of community
organisations, charities and local authorities to assist vulnerable
homeowners across England and Wales with funding and installation or
repair of crucial heating measures, such as boilers, in the home.
With renewed guidance from The National Institute of Health and Care
Excellence (NICE) calling for the wider community, from gas
engineers to health workers, to work together to ensure vulnerable
residents are not left in the cold, coupled with the fast
approaching autumn months, the scheme is now encouraging residents
to find out about help that is available.
Homeowners in Southport who have a long-term illness, a low income
with little or no savings and who are unable to fully fund heating
measures in their homes may be able to benefit from the scheme. They
do not have to be, or even become an npower customer, to benefit.
Elaine Midwinter from npower Health Through Warmth, comments:-
"As the summer starts to draw to an end, many residents in
Southport will soon be turning the thermostats up when the cold
weather hits. It's vital that vulnerable residents; whose health is
affected by the colder temperatures are able to do the same, which
is why we want to remind the wider community of the heating help
that may be on hand to help them."
npower Health Through Warmth, together with one of its partners, the
home improvement charity, Foundations Independent Living Trust (FILT),
has been shortlisted in this year's national Charity Times Award in
recognition of its partnership approach to help.
The scheme started in 2000 and, since its launch, almost 84,000
vulnerable residents across England and Wales have been referred for
heating help.
To find out if you, or someone you know, may be eligible for help
through the scheme, or to contact the Health Through Warmth team,
visit:-
npower.com/health_through_warmth.
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New operators
for City riding stables
A partnership has been
agreed between the City Council and a local Riding for the Disabled
(RDA) charity to continue the provision of horse riding
opportunities for disabled people, benefitting their health and
wellbeing.
The plans will see Beechley Riding Stables in Allerton transfer to a
local charity and become Beechley Stables Riding for the Disabled
Association (RDA).
Beechley Stables RDA was formerly known as the Friends of Beechley
Stables which was also a registered charity.
The transfer comes as the City Council faces the challenge of
finding £156 million worth of savings in the next three years as a
result in cuts in Central Government funding. The stables currently
cost the City Council £200,000 per year to operate, and now Beechley
Stables RDA will take over the running of the facility which will
include all operational costs, maintenance, security, utilities and
insurance.
Assistant Mayor and cabinet member for leisure, Councillor Wendy
Simon, said:- "We need to make savings of around 50% to the
leisure portfolio and so it's important we think differently about
how services operate in the future.
We are delighted to be able to work in partnership with Riding for
the Disabled Association in order to continue the fantastic work
that goes on at the stables. It's a very popular facility
within the community and helps reaffirm our commitment to
encouraging people with disabilities to get active, try something
different, learn new skills which will hopefully develop into a
regular activity."
The agreement with the Beechley Stables RDA will be reviewed in
2017.
Beechley Stables RDA will be responsible for raising its own funding
to support operational costs. As a result, it is appealing to the
public for volunteers to assist with horse care and riding lessons; no previous experience is necessary and training will be provided.
Rev Godfrey Butland, Chairman of Beechley Stables RDA said:-
"With 25 years of experience as volunteers and trustees, we look
forward to continuing to support some of the most vulnerable people
in our City and growing together a vibrant organisation."
For any enquiries regarding lessons, volunteering and fundraising,
email, or
call them on:- 0770 9629 310. |
