A project to help the elderly to keep their homes warm this winter and eat properly is starting to make a difference to people’s lives.
The Keep Warm, Eat Well Project is funded by the North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus (CTP) and is estimated that by the end of the winter more than £1 million will have been secured in unclaimed benefits for the elderly residents of North East Lincolnshire.
Last winter the CTP highlighted some alarming facts: that many older people living in the borough could not afford to pay their fuel bills and eat properly, which could have been a factor leading to the increased admissions to hospital and higher mortality rates among the elderly population.
The CTP is working in partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau, Community Advice Service and Home Efficiency Team to provide welfare benefits advice designed to raise the income of the elderly population and to help them keep their home warm this winter.
Sarah Avery, CTP Transforming Care communications project manager, said: “Keep Ward, Eat Well is actively working to tackle poverty and reduce the impact of problems related to low incomes.
The project is successfully increasing older people’s incomes, with vital information and advice to help them access welfare benefit entitlements, pension credit take-up, advice on how to heat their homes economically and how to eat well to stay healthy.”
The campaign focuses on three main contact numbers (01472) 232203 or (01472) 871383 for benefits and council tax advice and (01472) 324782 for heating and insulation advice.
An over-60s drop-in session is now held by the Community Advice Service every Tuesday at the Home Shop, 31 Freeman Street, from 1pm to 4pm; no appointment is needed.
Home visits are also available too by calling (01472) 871383. Older people can help with form filling, Attendance Allowance, Pension Credit and get a full benefit check.
Tony Gaskins, Citizens Advice Bureau Chief Executive, said: “Keep Warm, Eat Well Project is really beginning to make difference in elderly people’s lives. More than £113,000 in additional benefit income has been secured for people who have used the project. Community Advice Service has secured similar benefits for people aged 60 or over.
“While some older people are enjoying more sociable, active and wealthier lifestyles, others remain isolated, poor and relatively powerless.
“Many older people heat one room in the house, buy the cheapest food, and never spend money on holidays or clothes.”
Annmarie Webster, Service Manager at the Community Advice Service, said: “As the recession continues to bite, pensioner poverty is growing. This is why the Keep Warm, Eat Well Project is vital at this time to assist those most in need.”
People aged 60 or over who are worried that their heating bills have increased, or are worried that their homes are not warm enough, should contact the Keep Warm, Eat Well Project to make sure they are receiving their full entitlement to benefits and that they can keep their homes warm.
Showing posts with label Care Trust Plus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Care Trust Plus. Show all posts
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Thursday, 3 December 2009
IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WEEK THERE WILL BE FREE TEA, COFFEE, MINCE PIES AND GIVEAWAYS; BUT AS A PRECAUTION THE CARE PLUS TRUST WILL OFFER FREE BLOOD P
As part of the Fiveways week of community engagement, North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus (CTP) and the LINK (Local Involvement Network) will have a stall at Freeman Street market on Friday, December 11 offering free blood pressure checks and lots of information about how people can get involved in local health services.
Members of the public are being encouraged to come along and see how health and social care has evolved over the years with local pictures and stories depicting how things have changed. There will also be free tea, coffee and mince pies, a raffle and giveaways.
The community engagement team will be available to answer questions about how people can get involved by joining Accord, a new community membership body for North East Lincolnshire that lets members have a say in how NHS money is spent. Accord was launched in June by the CTP to offer members the chance to shape health and social care services now and in the future. It now has over 2000 members.
Jeremy Baskett, assistant director for community involvement and engagement at the CTP, said: “We’re holding this stall to encourage local people to get involved in being at the forefront of current changes in the way health and social care is provided locally.”
Members of the public are being encouraged to come along and see how health and social care has evolved over the years with local pictures and stories depicting how things have changed. There will also be free tea, coffee and mince pies, a raffle and giveaways.
The community engagement team will be available to answer questions about how people can get involved by joining Accord, a new community membership body for North East Lincolnshire that lets members have a say in how NHS money is spent. Accord was launched in June by the CTP to offer members the chance to shape health and social care services now and in the future. It now has over 2000 members.
Jeremy Baskett, assistant director for community involvement and engagement at the CTP, said: “We’re holding this stall to encourage local people to get involved in being at the forefront of current changes in the way health and social care is provided locally.”
EAST MARSH MUM’S MISSION IS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT EMPLOYABILITY
Lisa Cox is the employability champion for the East Marsh.
The 34-year-old mother of two has been given the task of spreading the word about training and job opportunities to fellow parents at the East Marsh Children’s Centre.
Her main role will be to refer unemployed parents to the North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus (CTP) Employability Scheme, which offers work placements for up to 26 weeks.
The role of employability champion is the result of a new partnership between the East Marsh Children’s Centre and the CTP.
The partnership was forged during a meeting of the ward’s Worklessness Collaborative – a group of organisations and individuals aiming to improve employability within the area.
Lisa said: “I speak to parents and ask them if they want to get back into work, and if so I refer them to the CTP.
“A lot of people have been out of work for such a long time that they have got stuck in a rut. They have low self-esteem and are unsure about getting back into work.
“But I have referred four people already and one has got a job. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Lisa is hoping to use her experience in her new role as a springboard to a career as a care worker.
She is currently taking her maths and English GCSEs at the children’s centre. The centre offers a range of learning opportunities, from courses such as aromatherapy and cooking, to GCSE maths and English and computer skills.
Another part of Lisa’s role will be to make parents aware of these opportunities.
Lisa Gregory, the co-ordinator of the East Marsh Children’s centre, said: “We have approached parents at the centre who have shown an interest in getting some education or getting back into work.
“What Lisa has really picked up on since she started her role is that there is already a lot of help and information out there – we just need to make people aware of it.”
For more information, call into the East Marsh Children’s Centre on Victor Street, Grimsby, or call (01472) 326860.
The 34-year-old mother of two has been given the task of spreading the word about training and job opportunities to fellow parents at the East Marsh Children’s Centre.
Her main role will be to refer unemployed parents to the North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus (CTP) Employability Scheme, which offers work placements for up to 26 weeks.
The role of employability champion is the result of a new partnership between the East Marsh Children’s Centre and the CTP.
The partnership was forged during a meeting of the ward’s Worklessness Collaborative – a group of organisations and individuals aiming to improve employability within the area.
Lisa said: “I speak to parents and ask them if they want to get back into work, and if so I refer them to the CTP.
“A lot of people have been out of work for such a long time that they have got stuck in a rut. They have low self-esteem and are unsure about getting back into work.
“But I have referred four people already and one has got a job. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Lisa is hoping to use her experience in her new role as a springboard to a career as a care worker.
She is currently taking her maths and English GCSEs at the children’s centre. The centre offers a range of learning opportunities, from courses such as aromatherapy and cooking, to GCSE maths and English and computer skills.
Another part of Lisa’s role will be to make parents aware of these opportunities.
Lisa Gregory, the co-ordinator of the East Marsh Children’s centre, said: “We have approached parents at the centre who have shown an interest in getting some education or getting back into work.
“What Lisa has really picked up on since she started her role is that there is already a lot of help and information out there – we just need to make people aware of it.”
For more information, call into the East Marsh Children’s Centre on Victor Street, Grimsby, or call (01472) 326860.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE IS A ‘GOOD PLACE TO GROW OLDER’
North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus, the Council and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are proud to announce the launch of a new Strategy for Later Life. This strategy sets out an exciting agenda for action over the next three years that will help transform services to people over 50 year of age. It was developed with older people and local organisations including the voluntary and community sectors.
The strategy challenges the myths and negative attitudes about older people. It recognises that they make a positive contribution to community life and should be valued, respected and free from discrimination. It seeks to ensure that older people are well informed and have choice and control over the services they need to maintain their health, well being and lifestyle. The priority actions are wide ranging covering advice/information, community involvement, health and social care, transport, leisure, work, finances and safer communities.
Councillor Malcolm Morland, Older People’s Champion, said “So often older people are talked about in negative ways – we hear for example about demographic time bombs and drains on the economy. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are vital to our families and communities and enrich society with their knowledge, skills and expertise. The new strategy harnesses this and will, through all the local agencies working well together, improve the quality of life and opportunities for all older people across North East Lincolnshire”.
The strategy will be launched at the Advice Day for Older People held annually for the National Older People’s Day at the Memorial Hall IN Cleethorpes on Wednesday September 30 from 10am to 3pm.
If you want to know more about the strategy then contact David Cook, Interim Deputy Director Business and Performance Management on (01472) 325460 or e mail dave.cook@nelincs.gov.uk
Read the Strategy Documentation
A Good Place to Grow Older - Executive Summary (PDF document)
A Good Place to Grow Older – Full Strategy (PDF document)
The strategy challenges the myths and negative attitudes about older people. It recognises that they make a positive contribution to community life and should be valued, respected and free from discrimination. It seeks to ensure that older people are well informed and have choice and control over the services they need to maintain their health, well being and lifestyle. The priority actions are wide ranging covering advice/information, community involvement, health and social care, transport, leisure, work, finances and safer communities.
Councillor Malcolm Morland, Older People’s Champion, said “So often older people are talked about in negative ways – we hear for example about demographic time bombs and drains on the economy. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are vital to our families and communities and enrich society with their knowledge, skills and expertise. The new strategy harnesses this and will, through all the local agencies working well together, improve the quality of life and opportunities for all older people across North East Lincolnshire”.
The strategy will be launched at the Advice Day for Older People held annually for the National Older People’s Day at the Memorial Hall IN Cleethorpes on Wednesday September 30 from 10am to 3pm.
If you want to know more about the strategy then contact David Cook, Interim Deputy Director Business and Performance Management on (01472) 325460 or e mail dave.cook@nelincs.gov.uk
Read the Strategy Documentation
A Good Place to Grow Older - Executive Summary (PDF document)
A Good Place to Grow Older – Full Strategy (PDF document)
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