wellness

Helping people stay warm and well

Millions of households in the UK live in fuel poverty yet very few people understand the scale and severity of this complex issue. Each winter thousands of people die as a direct result of being unable to afford to heat their homes.

The Green Doctor service is completely free and provides valuable assistance to many vulnerable households. It may be an elderly person needing help switching, a young family applying for energy grants, or someone suffering from a health condition that’s made worse by the cold who is struggling to heat their home.

People who live in a housing association home or in council housing, those who rent privately and people who own their own home are welcome to participate in the Green Doctor scheme. The aim is to help people make the most of their income and to empower people to make informed decisions about energy use.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Course for community groups and frontline workers

In order to increase awareness of this free service, the Green Doctors are running a series of presentations and training sessions for community groups and frontline workers.

Presentations cover topics such as:

Switching supplier

Tariffs

Payment options

Smart Meters

Energy efficiency

Damp / Mould / Condensation advice

Additional support

Carbon Monoxide

Green Doctor service

The Great Winter Get Together is a month long series of activities run by the Jo Cox Foundation, lasting from 14th December 2020 to 18th January 2021. Taking forward Jo Cox’s vision of a “less lonely, more connected world”, the series of five themes are all about tackling loneliness one connection at a time.

The Great Winter Get Together

Say Thanks – 14th December to 20th December

Say Thanks is about shining a light on local heroes who have helped people throughout the coronavirus pandemic. There are postcards you can download, print and send to let those people know just how much they are appreciated, and images for sharing on social media.

Say Thanks

Reach Out – 21st December to 27th December

More than ever before we need to support one another. This week is about encouraging people to connect with someone they’ve lost touch with, whether it’s an old friend or ex-colleague. If you’re not sure where to start, there’s a toolkit to help you with ideas.

Reach Out

Reaching Out Toolkit (PDF)

Show you care – 28th December to 3rd January

Acts of kindness go a long way to showing someone you care. This is about bringing a smile to someone’s face, which can also make us feel good about ourselves. There’s a downloadable Kindness Calendar for each day of the week, with suggestions on things you can do to give someone a lift or contribute to making a kinder, more giving society.

Show you care

Kindness Calendar (PDF)

Understand Loneliness – 4th January to 10th January

The changes many of us have experienced during the last year have been difficult, resulting in increased loneliness for many people in our communities. Loneliness has had an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. In partnership with the Marmalade Trust, a charity dedicated to raising awareness about loneliness, the foundation have produced a toolkit to help improve our understanding.

Understand Loneliness

Understanding Loneliness Toolkit (PDF)

Help Out – 11th January to 17th January

Volunteering is a great way to help support the most vulnerable in our community. Help Out is about finding out what you can give, whether that’s an hour, an evening or more, it all helps. Help Out is supported by the Royal Voluntary Service and there’s a toolkit to help you figure out how you can help this winter.

Help Out

Helping Others Toolkit (PDF)