As we enter the colder months, the rising costs of winter can be a worrying time for many families, older and vulnerable people in the borough.
Here are 5 top tips about the wide range of support that you can access from Ealing Council and its partners to help you keep warm, well and get help with the costs of the winter months:
- The Healthy Homes Ealing helpline, run by the council, offers free advice on how to keep your home warm, save energy and switch energy tariffs to save you money. Healthy Homes Ealing can also arrange for a visit from a Green Doctor who can tell you about grants that you may be able to get to improve your home and reduce how much it costs to heat it
- If you are a pensioner, you may be eligible to apply for Pension Credit. You have up until 21 December to qualify to automatically receive the Winter Fuel Allowance. Age UK has brought together a wide range of advice and information on its website, including tips on looking after your mental health, financial support and grants you may be able to claim and practical advice on keeping warm. Age UK offers support through its free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, all year round. Or you can contact Age UK Ealing on 020 8567 8017 to find out more about local services
- If you have children, check out this list of free or low-cost activities for children over the winter -including discount codes and restaurants that have ‘kids eat free’ deals. The council has received continued Household Support Funding, which means families who are eligible for free school meals, and those with children under 5 who receive housing benefit or council tax support, will receive vouchers before each school holiday – as will care leavers, too. Ealing’s Holiday Activity and Food programme is also running again for the Christmas school break. Find out who is eligible and how to apply for courses
- The council’s cost of living team has brought together lots of advice and support about grants, and services in your area, including the locations of warm spaces and food banks. Take a look at the website for more information. Or, if you need to speak to someone urgently, call the contact centre on 020 8825 7170
- It is not too late to get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this winter. Both viruses are making people unwell and London hospitals have recently seen an increase in the number of people being hospitalised, especially with flu. If you are over 65, pregnant, a carer or have a health condition, make sure you get your vaccinations. Children from age 2 upwards are also eligible for a free flu vaccine. People over 75 and those who are pregnant (over 28 weeks) should also have the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. In pregnancy, the vaccination will help protect newborn babies. Find out where you can book your vaccination or find a walk-in vaccination centres on the NHS NW London website.
Councillor Polly Knewstub, Cabinet member for healthy equal lives said: “Please don’t struggle alone this winter, particularly for older and vulnerable people there is lots of support available, we’re here to help. Equally, if you have children there’s lots available on our doorsteps, we’ve collated some of the best free local activities and offers to help you keep costs down.
“Crucially our NHS colleagues have seen a worrying increase in the number of people being hospitalised with flu over recent weeks, so whatever age you are, if you’ve put off getting a vaccine, it’s not too late to get yourself or your child vaccinated to help you keep well over the coming months.”
