Help for January and beyond
The festive period is often the most expensive time of the year. There are also recent freezing temperatures meaning higher energy costs, are impacting everyone.
Here are some of our most used webpages with tips and advice, if you’re struggling this month.
Reminder on advice and tips
We have guides for your situation to take you through help options step by step:
And here are some of the most useful options to help you, based on advice and services other residents have used:
Watch out for older people struggling during cold
We’re seeing more older residents not heating their homes and suffering in the recent cold weather.
As the temperature has dropped and is staying low, we are encouraging people in this cold spell to check up on older friends, family and neighbours, who might need support. Age UK has advice for keeping warm and well in winter.
Help is available for older people who may be struggling to heat their homes or pay for other essentials.
Top tips to help
- Ask older people to heat their home to a steady temperature throughout the day and night, recommended to at least 18°C (64°F), and wear suitable clothing
- Keep a friendly eye on older relatives, friends and neighbours. Offering to bring in some shopping or picking up medicines from the pharmacy can be a real help
- If bad weather is forecast, make sure you have everything you need. Check you’ve got enough medication and food in case it’s harder to leave the house. A bottle of water could be handy if the water supply is interrupted
- Have torches handy around the home in case of a power cut, as well as spare batteries
- Keep emergency numbers nearby. Call 105 in the event of a power cut – you can report a power cut and get information and advice if there is one in your area. You can also register with your supplier so they’ll call you in the event of a power cut
- Take extra care if the ground is slippery. Wear shoes with good grip and consider keeping salt and sand mixture handy to grit paths. You could ask your neighbours for help to clear paths or driveways clear in bad weather – most people are more than happy to help
- Plan ahead when driving. Try to avoid going out in the car in bad weather if possible, and make sure you follow advice on driving conditions near you
Get control of your energy costs with expert help
Get the help you need to take control of your energy bill by attending a session hosted by Citizens Advice Wokingham later this month.
The charity is offering advice as part of the upcoming Big Energy Saving Fortnight (13 to 24 January), starting next week. Experts will be there to help you see how to save save money this winter. Drop-in sessions are running on:
- Tuesday 14 January - Woodley Library (10am to 2pm) or Tesco, Wokingham (9.30am to 12noon) or Morrisons, Woosehill (1pm to 3.30pm)
- Wednesday 15 January - Asda, Lower Earley (9.30am to 3.30pm)
- Thursday 16 January - Wokingham Library (10am to 2pm) or Swallowfield Parish Hall (10am to 1pm) or School Green Centre, Shinfield (1.30pm to 3.30pm)
- Saturday 18 January - Asda, Lower Earley (9.30am to 3pm)
- Tuesday 21 January - Woodley Library (10am to 2pm) or Woodley Foodbank (9.30am to 12noon) or Waitrose, Twyford (1pm to 3.30pm)
- Wednesday 22 January - Woodley Precinct (9.30am to 3pm)
- Thursday 23 January - Wokingham Library (10am to 2pm) or Arborfield Community Centre (10m to 1pm) or SHARE at Arborfield British Legion (2pm to 4pm)
You can get help with energy efficiency ideas, tariffs and meters, Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments and more. You can also book an appointment with the Energy Advice Team by email or by calling 0808 278 7958.
Help us build a borough where everyone belongs
We're updating our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, which is aimed at helping create communities where everyone feels welcome and belongs.
The new strategy will set our priorities to ensure that everybody's needs are properly considered and met.
We will use it to help ensure the services we offer, and the policies we follow, are accessible, fair and representative of the communities we serve. The survey is open until 19 January.
New year perfect time for training courses
If you’re looking to learn new skills and get back into employment in 2025, remember our adult education team can help you with training courses.
There’s a host of courses available in the weeks ahead, including:
- getting back into work
- maths
- family learning
- digital and IT skills
- English
Most courses are free, eligiblity criteria apply. Concessions for some courses.
Free childcare for working parents
There are lots of options available for working parents to help cover or support childcare costs if you're working. This includes:
- Free childcare for 15 hours a week from nine months old
- Free childcare for 30 hours a week from three years old
- Up to £2,000 a year towards childcare costs
You can check your entitlement for your situation on the Childcare Choices website.
Advice on loan sharks
The festive period may have had an impact on your finances. Some people are having to borrow money to meet their basic financial demands such as housing, food and energy bills.
It means you may be more likely to be exposed to loan sharks. This is someone who lends money without legal approval to do so.
They are illegal lenders who often target people with lower incomes or are desperate for help. They often also target people at more expensive times of the year, like Christmas or just after.
Our partners the Public Protection Partnership have put together advice on spotting loan sharks and where to go for confidential help.
Confidential help and support can be sought from the England Illegal Money Lending Team via telephoning 0300 555 2222, email reportloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or live chat on the Stop Loan Sharks website (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
Household Support Fund can help in 2025
If you’re struggling at the start of the year or due to recent cold weather, the Household Support Fund can help you. Anyone can apply if you can’t pay for:
- Food
- Bills
- Energy costs
- Other everyday essentials
If you successfully applied for a Household Support Grant between 1 April and 30 September 2024, you will automatically get another payment this winter. It will be paid six months after your last payment. You do not need to reapply.
If you’ve successfully applied for Holiday Food Vouchers, your payments will be made automatically. You do not need to reapply.
Support is available to households who feel they are struggling with rising costs of living as well as people in receipt of benefits.
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