The cost of living crisis is biting hard and not everyone uses the internet…so we’ve put together a list of useful phone numbers for people who might need support this winter.
The list includes Age Cymru, Citizen’s Advice, National Debt Line, Wrexham Food Bank and other services, and is the latest initiative by Wrexham Council’s cross-party working group set up to support people through the crisis.
So if you know someone who might benefit from extra help, please share these phone numbers. Maybe you could print them out for a friend, neighbour or relative?
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Cllr David A Bithell, who chairs the working group, says:
“Just like during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s really important we look out for each other – particularly those who might be a little more vulnerable.
“So if you have a friend, neighbour or relative who might need support and is unlikely to access it using the internet, please share these phone numbers with them.
“Make sure they know that support is available, and there are people they can talk to for help with things like grants and benefits, household bills and money worries.”
Drop-in sessions
As well as providing information on our website, we’ve been holding drop-in events across the county borough – where you can get face-to-face advice on cost of living issues.
And we’re planning more for the new year, including:
- Friday, January 6, 2023 – Gwersyllt Library, 2pm-5pm
- Friday, January 20, 2023 – Ruabon Library, 2pm-5pm
- Friday, February 3, 2023 – Llay Library, 2pm-5pm
- Friday, February 17, 2023 – Wrexham Library, 10am-2pm
Cost of living support sessions taking place at libraries across winter
‘Soup and a chat’
In January, we’ll also be starting our ‘soup and a chat’ events at sheltered housing units across the county borough.
We’ll be providing hot soup and a roll, and a hot drink to all our tenants in sheltered accommodation, and housing officers will be on hand to provide advice and support on housing and financial issues.
It’s part of our warm spaces initiative and will give some of the most vulnerable members of our community the chance to meet with neighbours and access help in a warm and safe environment.
Cllr Bithell says:
“Some of our most vulnerable residents live in sheltered accommodation, and this is a great initiative that will really help tenants who are struggling with the cost of living.
“Of course, we realise that older people are not the only ones in need of support, and housing officers are also carrying out telephone welfare calls and visiting our most vulnerable council tenants.
“We’re here to support local people in any way we can, and we all have a duty to look out for those who are most at risk within our communities.”
Warm places grants
Local organisations have expressed an interest in becoming ‘warm places’ with help from our Warm Places Grant.
We’ll be awarding 22 grants in our first round of allocations. This will help increase the number of places where people can keep warm and access support and advice this winter.
Applications are now open again (closing date January 12) and interested parties should email warmplaces@wrexham.gov.uk
Councillor Bithell says:
“Our libraries were among the first places in the county borough to set up as warm places, and anyone is welcome to go into our libraries to keep warm whenever they’re open.
“Our grant initiative will help expand the scheme, and we’re processing applications as quickly as possible so new locations can get up and running.
“Many people are struggling to heat their homes due energy costs, but by increasing the number of warm places in the county borough, we can at least provide people with somewhere warm, friendly and supportive during the day.”
Tips for keeping your fuel bills down
It’s important to keep warm during the cold weather, but if you’re worried about turning the heating on, here are some simple things you can do to help keep your bills down.
- Draw your curtains in the evenings to minimise heat loss through windows, and tuck long curtains behind radiators so that heat isn’t trapped.
- It can be relatively cheap and simple to draught proof your home using materials from a DIY store. You can get rolls of draught-excluding foam tubing for windows. To stop cold air getting in through your front door, consider a draught brush for the letterbox and maybe a cover for the keyhole.
- Use your heating controls, such as thermostats and timers, to heat your home without wasting energy.
- If there are rooms you don’t use, turn off the radiators in them and close the doors. Keep your home at a stable, comfortable temperature.
- Make sure any devices aren’t left on standby. The Energy Saving Trust says you can save up to £40-a-year by switching devices off standby.
- If you have a hot water cylinder that’s uninsulated, it will be losing heat. This means the water inside cools down faster. Fitting a hot water jacket could save around £40-a-year.
For more cost of living advice, visit our website.
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