Burnham-On-Sea residents living in cold houses or struggling with heating bills will benefit this winter from a £190,000 Government grant to Somerset County Council.
The council’s Warm Homes project successfully bid for the grant from the Department of Health’s Warm Homes Healthy People fund to help vulnerable people in poorly-heated homes.
The grant will cover the supplying and fitting of 200 free ‘warm home kits’, which include draft excluders, tank jackets and pipe lagging, to those in greatest need.
Cabinet Member Cllr Christine Lawrence said: “A warm home is vital for keeping people healthy, particularly children, the elderly and the chronically ill. With this Department of Health money we can do even more to help protect the most vulnerable in our communities.”
“There are many organisations providing great advice and assistance. By working together I’m sure there will be a hugely positive impact not just this winter, but in future winters too.”
The grant will also enable additional cold weather training for front-line workers and volunteers, and see 20 public events taking place in the New Year to get information to as many people as possible. The grant funding is part of the Government’s Cold Weather Plan.
