November 2023
It’s December and Winter is in full swing, with the frosty weather setting in and the festive season quickly approaching.
To help you prepare for the colder weather, we are here to share some quick tips to keep warm at home, information all about the winter support fund which provides free winter resources and essentials, as well as a peek into recent home improvements that we carried out on a Meadows residents home to make it more energy efficient.
Plus, information all about the first run of our new Eat and Learn set of workshops, running once a month at the Climate Hub, designed to help you gain new skills from experts, meet others in the community and chat over a free hot meal.
Tips to stay warm this winter
We rounded off November at the Meadows Christmas Tree lights switch-on. Our team members, Heather and Will were on hand to chat about our upcoming ‘Keep warm this winter’ event, offering valuable tips and advice on staying cosy during these chilly months.
Here are some quick tips:
If you are struggling with a cold home this winter, check out this list of warm spaces in the Meadows.
These can be spaces to drop in for a free cuppa, some hot food, some company, or just to keep warm.
Electric blankets can keep you warm without heating the whole house. On average, they cost 2-4p an hour to run, and according to Octopus Energy, can save up to 10-20% on your bills. Over a year, that is a massive £300 saving.
An electric blanket costs around £40-£60. If you’re struggling to afford one and are an Octopus Energy customer, visit their website here and you could be eligible for support.
Windows, doors, letterboxes, and even keyholes, let in draughts. You can make your own low cost draught excluders by using the leg of a pair of old jeans, stuff it with rice, beans or polyester stuffing. Seal the edges with glue and tie or sew up each end. Next, it is as simple as wedging your invention against draughty spots - helping to keep the cold out.
If you are experiencing pressures with paying your energy bills, visit NEP’s support page here for advice on the resources available.
Need help this winter? Funding is available for winter essentials.
To mark Fuel Poverty Day on Thursday 30th November, the Cadent Foundation launched their Winter Support Fund, which will operate between December 2023 - March 2024. You could be eligible for support such as: PayPoint energy vouchers, food vouchers (vary across household size) and essential winter items such as: oil filled radiators, air fryers, slow cookers and more.
Nottingham Energy Partnership, who lead the Green Meadows project, have been allocated vouchers for households in need of support this winter. With energy bills set to increase by 5% this January, the fund acknowledges that many facing cost of living challenges need urgent help and offers quick assess to winter essentials.
If you would like to find out about the support available, please get in touch with us by calling 0115 985 3009 and our friendly team will be glad to help.
Our new set of ‘Eat and Learn’ workshops
This winter we are launching our new Eat and Learn workshops. Held monthly at the Climate Hub, the sessions are designed to help you gain new skills, learn about climate and community action and chat to others over a free hot meal. Each workshop will have a practical element where you can learn a new skill. We will then tuck into a free hot meal while listening to a talk or discussion led by a relevant expert. And that's not all! Some exciting freebies at each event will help you put your new skills to practice. Check below to see what we have coming up this winter.
Eat and Learn
Sat 16th December, 11am-2pm
Keep warm this winter
This month, the Climate Hub is hosting Dr. Lorna Kiamba, an expert in home heating solutions. She will be sharing her best tips to keep you and your home warm this winter.
Sat 20th January, 11am-3pm
Mend and make do
In January, the Climate Hub welcomes Jude Marsh, a Meadows resident and artist, to teach the basics of hand sewing, darning socks, altering lengths for better fit, and adding buttons.
Sat 17th February, 11am-3pm
Make a slow cooker
In February, the Climate Hub welcomes Tiger Community Enterprise CIC and Dr. Mike Clifford to demonstrate how to turn a box into a slow cooker to take home with you.
Energy efficiency during winter
We are back this month to check in with another Meadows resident who received a Future-Fit survey and had home improvements funded by the Cadent Foundation. These improvements make long term improvements to residents’ homes, helping to keep them warmer and lower fuel bills.
Mrs T found that her home was prone to draughts and dampness and drastically dropped in temperature during winter.
She received a Future-Fit plan, which outlined that most of the heat was being lost through the walls and the roof of the buildings, as well as through the floors and gaps in the building fabric. With funding from the Cadent Foundation, we installed some of the first actions listed on the plan, such as:
Draught-proofing on the door and the attic hatch to prevent excess heat loss
LED light bulbs to save electricity
Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) extractors
Boiler optimisation - lowering the flow temperature to run more efficiently
Mrs T was pleased with the work, she told us, “The contractors were very good, very careful and really helpful. They tidied up after themselves and really took care when doing the work.”
Click here to read more about her experience.
Sign up for a Future-Fit here, or call 0115 718 2028
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