4 Ways to Warmth
After the extreme cold weather of 2010/11 the government published its Cold Weather Plan for England on 1 November 2011 which aimed to reduce the number of deaths and ill health associated with the winter. The Department of Health subsequently launched its Warm Homes Healthy People Fund initiative to support local authorities to help them to provide support to people living in cold housing and further to help vulnerable individuals, families and carers prepare for potential cold or severe weather conditions. Leicestershire County Council and its partners across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in local communities, volunteer sector and statutory organisations jointly bid and their 4 Ways 2 Warmth submission was successful. The Campaign was awarded £120,000 at the end of December 2011 to be allocated for spending by March 2012!
The Campaign is well underway in Leicestershire and supported by a range of partners, centres on four key areas:
1. Identification - who is vulnerable?
2. Raising awareness - ensuring that everyone appreciates the issues and has the knowledge to be able to signpost people correctly
3. Practical help and support
4. Ensuring a legacy for the future.
Together we will identify and give practical help and advice to people at most risk and offer practical help by providing:
• Winter warmer packs
• Emergency heating/water
• Hypothermia thermometers
• Roof space clearance to enable loft insulation
• Pipe lagging
• Electric blankets
• Advice on eating well and keeping warm etc.
4W2W aims to promote a countywide network of well informed volunteers and professional staff who may come into contact with vulnerable people through their daily life and work.