If you, or someone you know, suffers with their health in cold weather, NOW is the time to look for help. In Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, the Departmentof Health has invested over £500,000 in Warm Homes, Healthy People.

What extra help is available?

In Stoke:

• telephone checks on vulnerable people
• comprehensive advice, face-to-face at home, going into the right detail for each household
• practical help in wintry weather
• falls prevention at home
• restoring heating and hot water
• additional help with heating systems and repairs

In Staffordshire:

Details vary a little between the eight Districts, but the main services are similar across the County.

• Energy efficiency advice, which may be given at home where bills and meters can be checked and a trained adviser can negotiate with a fuel company on your behalf
• Warm Home Checks – simple checks to improve warmth and safety in practical ways
• benefit and grant entitlement checks
• restoring hot water
• additional help with heating systems and repairs
• enhanced handyperson services.

Who should I contact?

In Staffordshire, each local authority area has its own contact number.

• Staffordshire Moorlands – Revival – 01782 749202
• Newcastle-under-Lyme – Revival – 01782 749202
• Stafford – Orbit – 01785 619630
• East Staffordshire – Orbit – 01283 497414
• Cannock Chase – Spirita – 0203 535 3670
• South Staffordshire – Spirita – 0203 535 3670
• Lichfield – Let’s Work Together – 01543 308000
• Tamworth – HEAT – 0800 043 2815

In Stoke-on-Trent, contact any one of the key agencies.

• Age UK North Staffordshire – 01782 204995
• Beat the Cold – 0800 389 2258 or 01782 683813
• North Staffs Warm Zone – 01782 479099
• Revival – 01782 749202
• Saltbox – 01782 207200

Do not delay, the extra services only run to the end of March 2012.

Beat the Cold is organising a series of promotional events across Stoke and parts of Staffordshire. We hope to chat to people attending clinics at hospitals, shopping at markets, and attending lunch clubs. Many of these events will appear in the listing on the front page of our web site.

You are welcome to ring us to talk through what is available, but please be patient if our telephone lines are busy.