If you are worried about your home being cold or damp in winter, and rising energy costs, Age UK have a new FREE service that is available to any older person.

They can help with:

• Checking your home’s energy efficiency
• Tips on staying warm and well in winter
• Installing practical equipment, such as draught excluders and radiator foils
• Companionship visits
• Days at Centres in Halifax and Huddersfield

To find out more, call us on 01422 262011 or visit the website.

Want to get to grips with new technology and the internet but don’t want the outlay of a new computer straight away? Age UK may be able to offer:

• Loan of digital equipment for 6 months
• One-to-one support from an experienced IT volunteer
• Access to the internet

If you would like more information or to see if you or someone you know is eligible, please call Anne Cuthbert at Age UK Calderdale & Kirklees 01422 252 040 or visit the website

Northern Powergrid has launched an improved online registration process for its Priority Services Register (PSR) for those customers who feel they are particularly vulnerable and would benefit from additional support during a power cut. New features now allow carers or relatives to register on behalf of a vulnerable person and also let those registering set the length of time they wish to be on the register. Reminders will be sent automatically to extend or end their registration. The PSR pages include tips on energy efficiency and contacts for organisations offering support and advice on heating and fuel bills.

http://www.northernpowergrid.com/page/powercuts/priority.cfm for more details…

Age UK Calderdale & Kirklees Health and Community Services team are working with ‘Good Neighbour Scheme’. They aim to alleviate a lot of the problems associated with later life.

A project which the people of Heptonstall are likely to hear a lot more about is ‘LOCAL LINK’.

Local Link is managed by Andrew Fearnley, who has a network of Community Volunteers, mainly in rural areas of Calderdale, who act as ‘eyes and ears’ of their local communities, to support isolated older people. Mary Cockcroft and Jean Leach are our volunteers in the Heptonstall area.

Andrew also runs a scheme called ‘SAFE & WARM’, offering Home Energy Information and Advice, with support in applying for grants and reducing fuel poverty amongst vulnerable older people.

The ‘ACTIVE BEFRIENDING PROJECT’, co-ordinated by Christine Henry offers ‘one to one’ support for isolated people throughout Calderdale. Trained volunteers are linked with lonely older people who feel depressed and socially isolated. The scheme is focused on engaging people in activities with their befriender, in order to restore confidence and gain more out of life.

People are referred to the scheme through various channels; usually by Health Professionals, but often by family or neighbours and sometimes by the person who actually needs the support.

Andrew and Christine can be contacted at Age UKCK Choices Centre, Woolshops, Halifax. For further information Tel 01422 399830.

The Good Neighbour Scheme (+ Voluntary Driver) Group have been successful in recruiting a number of local community volunteers – as drivers for the Community Car Service. If you have mobility problems and/or experience problems in using public transport then this service may be of help to you. You might be able to use it, for example, to get to:-

• GP or Hospital Appointments
• Food or other shopping
• Social events and activities

If you think that you – or someone you know – might be interested and/or you would like to find out more, then please contact Phil Kelly on 01422 847328.