Community Matters: Keep warm without burning cash

It’s beginning to look a lot like….  Baby it’s cold outside…  I’m dreaming of a white….

You get the idea. With a certain festive season rapidly approaching, the weather has also become colder. Not only can most of us not afford to spend months in a hotter climate, but most of us are also affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

After a mild Autumn, the cold is definitely upon us. Recently, Community Builders have been working with a wonderful charity called ECOE whose aim is to help local people reduce their energy bills. ECOE is an award-winning energy advice organisation, saving residents more than £2.2 million last year and saving 600 tonnes of carbon. In this way it helps you and the planet.

ECOE provides free, impartial advice on energy savings for low-income people who receive welfare benefits, have children under five in the household or adults over 65, or have a long-term illness or disability. 

Through their impartial advice, ECOE can help you save money on energy with great information and support around reducing heat loss and improving efficiency in your home. ECOE have a fantastic track record of saving individual home hundreds of pounds. They can help with changing supplier or tariff and applying for discounts, energy and water saving tips and advice, installing free energy saving measures, heating controls and smart meters, benefits checks and debt advice, grants for insulation and heating, fuel vouchers and crisis support, and signing up to the priority services register. For more information contact ECOE:  Email- healthyhomes@ecoe.org.uk, 08007723617 or www.ecoe.org.uk

Also, on the theme of saving money, Torbay Communities are organising a series of Big Exchanges. The idea is simple: bring your unwanted clothes, toys, books, games, plants, seeds, and home produce. Sorry – no electrical items or furniture. You can then choose items from other people attending. In this way, you can share what you no longer need with your community and pick up some new-to-you goodies to take home for free. Upcoming Big Exchange events take place on Monday 9th December 3pm-5pm at Kenneth Court in Shiphay, and Saturday 14th December 10am-1pm at Preston Baptist Church in Preston. Community Builders are looking forward to meeting people.

In nearby St. Marychurch, there is a Christmas Craft Fair on Friday 6 December, 10am-4pm, at Babbacombe Sailing Club (next to CO-OP). Local crafters and artisans will be selling their wares. There’s also a great tombola, tea, coffee and homemade cakes. Free entry. The event is raising funds for Torbay Communities, and I hope to see you there. In November we held the first craft fair, and it was superb. The cakes were delicious. It seemed important to sample them!

Also in St. Marychurch, look out for the Christmas Festive Day on Wednesday 18th December. There will be snow! Local schools will be singing carols in the afternoon, followed by a brass band and choir, festive foods, a lantern procession and of course late night shopping to buy Christmas gifts. Santa will also be making an appearance. See you there.

On Saturday 7th December 10am-1pm there is the Christmas Fair at St. Martin’s Church in Barton. There will be stalls in the church.

Whether you are hoping for a white Christmas or counting down to the Spring I hope that you stay safe, well and importantly warm.

I can be contacted on 07821 666322 or by email simonlangridge@torbaycdt.org.uk