Help available with heating bills....

More support is now available to vulnerable adults below pension-age in Cumbria who may be struggling with heating bills. Cumbria County Council has set aside £47,000 (forty-seven thousand pounds) this winter to help low income families with children aged under-5 years, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions that are made worse by cold. One-off grants of £125 will be available to vulnerable households which meet the criteria, from December 2013 until end the end of February 2014. The funding comes from the council’s Ways to Welfare programme which provides support and advice to working-age people throughout the year who are experiencing severe hardship. The winter help will compliment support already available for pensioners in Cumbria through Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Fund and other government schemes.

Families with children under-5 years can apply for Cumbria County Council’s new cold weather grants through the following organisations:

• For Barrow, Millom Keswick, Workington Cockermouth and surrounding areas, contact Action for Children on: 01900 325251

• For Maryport, Aspatria, Wigton, Silloth, Carlisle, Brampton, Penrith, South Lakes, Kendal and surrounding areas, contact Barnados on: 01900 898040 or email debbie.young@barnardos.org.uk

• For Whitehaven Cleator Moor, Egremont, Seascale and surrounding areas, contact the Howgill Children’s Centre on 01946 62681 or email Diane.kenmare@howgill-centre.co.uk

Adults below pension-age with disabilities, or a long-term health condition made worse by cold, can apply for support by contacting Thelma Waite at　DACE on 01228 674882.

For all other enquiries, people should contact Cumbria County Council’s Ways to Welfare programme on 01228 221100 or email communitysupport@cumbria.gov.uk

Councillor Beth Furneaux, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for Adult and Local Services, said: "This is one-off funding of £47,000 which the county council is making available to help vulnerable people stay warm this winter.

"The latest figures show that that there are around 190 more deaths in Cumbria in winter compared to non-winter months.

"Keeping warm is a basic human need and this one-off help is there to help vulnerable working-age adults to stay safe and well this winter.

"Although times are tough for local government, we are determined to make sure that the vulnerable receive the help they need."

Information on other forms of support and advice available to Cumbrians this winter, can be viewed online at: http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/brrr/