The Communicator - Swan Housing Association

web4residents.org.ukYour homehere when cold weather strikesIf you struggle to cope duringspells of severely cold weatherthen you can receive theessentials to see you through theworst of the winter.Don’t be caught in the cold.Do register with Age UK so thatyou can be prepared.The British Red Cross and Age UKhave teamed up to bring practicalhelp and support for the elderly,vulnerable and those most at riskduring cold weather through theSurviving Winter Appeal.What’s available? A warm pack to ensure you areprepared for severe weather. Thepack includes a fleece, a hotwater bottle and a flask to keepdrinks warm, and is availableonce you have registered withAge UK and been accepted aseligible A food pack to help you throughif severe weather hits and youcan’t get out to the shops. Thepack will contain essentials suchas tea, soup, ready meals andbiscuits An electric heater to help keepyou warm if your heating breaksor you run out of oil Help and advice is also includedto make sure you receive all youare entitled toexpensive to run than a modern gasor oil boiler, no matter what tariff youare on.If you don’t have a cylinder, or if yourcylinder doesn’t have an immersionheater, then you’re going to have tomanage in other ways:If you’ve got an electric shower thenthis will still work.You can boil kettles and boilsaucepans full of water on thehob for washing up, hand washing,and even to fill a bath if you havethe patience. Don’t worry aboutwhether you are using an electrickettle, gas hob or electric hob -the cost difference is very smalland it should only be for a shortperiod of time.All front loading washing machinesand all dishwashers will still workfine, even if they have a ‘hot fill’connection. The machine will detectthat the hot water supply is cold andwill heat the water internally anyway.To request your warm pack all you need to do is register withAge UK by calling Freephone 0800 169 6565 or register atwwwageuk.org.ukCarers can apply on behalf of elderly and vulnerable people.A food pack will be delivered to you by the British Red Cross,whatever the weather.17