A special event in Paignton to help provide local people with energy advice and financial support during the coming Winter months has been hailed as a success.
Paignton Community Hub, based downstairs at Paignton Library, hosted their ‘Beat the Freeze’ event in partnership with Torbay Health and Wellbeing Voluntary Sector Network and local non-profit community organisation Engaging Communities South West.
The event coincided with the widely-reported Government cuts to winter fuel payments and the need to look at ways to keep warm in these cold winter months. During the day, nearly one hundred local residents had the opportunity to find out about health, care and wellbeing support available, Government and financial support for rising energy costs, help with pension credit applications and benefits, energy advice and other support on offer. Torbay Council were also on hand to offer their Household Support Fund to those who may have missed out on the Government’s Winter Fuel Allowance.
In attendance were independent healthcare champion Healthwatch Torbay, digital support organisation Digital Health Devon, Citizens Advice Torbay, Age UK Torbay, Torbay’s NHS Breast Screening Team, Torbay Council, Barclays Bank, the Department for Work and Pensions, Exeter Community Energy (ECOE), Eat That Frog, Libraries Unlimited, Torbay Community Builders and local support charities such as ‘I can do that’, ‘What’s your problem’ and Ara Recovery for All, amongst others.
During the event the ECOE team arranged many home visits to ensure that people knew how to ensure their homes are well insulated from the cold and even held a raffle prize draw to win a ‘West and West Utilities warm pack of goodies’ – won by local resident Mary Morgan.
Claire Bithell, Torbay VCSE Network Coordinator & Paignton Community Hub Lead, said:
“For many people, it is difficult to find out about these services and the financial support available or to get energy advice. That’s why we hosted this special in-person event to support those who may not be aware of, or able to, access the support available.”
“We are delighted that so many local people were supported on the day by so many wonderful organisations. I’d like to thank them all for making our Big Freeze Event such a success. There was a real buzz around the hub as connections were made and people supported in a safe and warm space.
Our local community has been hit, like many others, by the impact of the cost of living crisis and we sincerely hope this event helped to support people in Torbay to ‘beat the freeze’ during the coming Winter.”
The event also gave local residents the chance to share their experiences, views and ideas for improving the NHS as part of the new NHS 10 year plan. Independent champion Healthwatch Torbay were gathering people’s opinions and thoughts to support the NHS in Devon’s local engagement on the plan, which runs in parallel with the national ‘Change NHS’ campaign.
Healthwatch Torbay are offering people who are unable to submit their feedback online the chance to do it over the phone by calling free on 0800 520 0640. They will also be independently chairing a series of workshops on the NHS 10 year plan in person. Visit www.healthwatchtorbay.org.uk for more details.
For those who may have missed the ‘Beat The Freeze’ event, free support is still available at Paignton Community Hub every weekday between 9.30am and 1.30pm. The deadline to apply for Pension Credit in order to see if you qualify for the 2024 Winter Fuel Payment is December 21st. Please call 07562 780102 or email info@paigntoncommunityhub.org.uk for more information on Paignton Community Hub.
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