How do you keep warm and avoid huge heating bills?
We understand you may be avoiding putting your heating on, but a cold house can affect your mental health.
It is important for older people or those with health conditions, such as asthma, to stay warm.
It is also important to keep your home warm to prevent damp and mould, so try to keep at least one room warm, such as your living room or bedroom.
Some of our Wade Hall tenants give their tips on how to stay warm this winter and reduce energy:
Teresa: You can put special window foil on your windows and behind your heaters. It is not like kitchen foil – it is like bubble wrap, which helps to keep the draught out.
I also wear lots of warm layers as it traps the heat, rather that one thick layer. And I like using a hot water bottle and blanket when I sit down. It’s all nice and cozy.
Joan: I have a curtain rail and curtain behind my front door which keeps the draught out.
Pat: Some people prefer to keep their heating on low all day but that actually costs more, so it is best to put it on only when you need it, or use a timer.
Find more tips to stay warm and save energy here: Affordable energy | Progress Housing Group (progressgroup.org.uk)
Winter Warmth Appeal
Wade Hall Community Association, run by one of our tenants Joan, is organising its Winter Warmth Appeal. People can drop off items such as new quilts (15 tog), hot water bottles, tinned food, scarves at the community centre, in Royal Avenue, Leyland, Monday to Friday 12.30pm until 6.30pm.
Joan says: “It is important for us to look after the elderly as they will struggle more in the winter that anyone else. We can wrap up warm and move about, but older people may be less mobile and may not move about as much.
“That’s why we have our Winter Warmth Appeal, which we have been running for 6 years. In that time, thanks to the generosity of our donors and our fundraising, we have helped more than 400 vulnerable older people keep warm and well through the winter months.
“Sadly the needs of the older people who we support through the appeal have increased, as combined with the increase in food prices and household costs, vulnerable people on low incomes were under more pressure than ever before.
“So this winter, the continued support of our donors will be vital.
“We are collecting new 15 tog quilts and some tenants have been knitting blankets and shawls.
“It is important people continue to eat hot food, so we are looking for donations of tinned food, so if people don’t want to cook using their gas hob, they can use the microwave, which is even easier.”
There is also an Amazon gift list here: Winter Warmth Appeal.