Tuesday, 21 May 2013

"A good foster carer is like a safety net. I knew that if I messed up someone would be there to catch me. Good carers don't judge you and you can tell them anything."

Powerful words from a young person who knows the very real and positive difference a foster carer can make to a vulnerable young person's life.

Nikki is 18 now and living independently in supported lodgings but to mark Fostercare Fortnight , 13- 27 May, she is helping Hampshire County Council to raise awareness of Fostering in a bid to recruit more carers.

Nikki, who is one of Hampshire's Care Ambassadors supporting other young people in care, spent around ten years in foster care. She still has contact with the family she lived with prior to living independently. "Penny was everything I could have wanted in a foster carer," said Nikki. "She made me feel at home in her family, she understood the difficult things I was dealing with. When I made mistakes she was there to help me but she never judged me. A good foster placement helps you feel safe and secure and for me it enabled me to be a child again."

Security and stability are very important for vulnerable children coming into foster care. Emma, 19, who is studying Philosophy at university with the aim of becoming a teacher has lived with foster carers for the past five years. She said the ability to give and take is key to the success of a placement. "Sometimes carers need to stick with it," she said. "When you come into care you may have a range of feelings, there may be upset, stress and some conflict. It's really important for carers to be willing to work through the hiccups. My carers are lovely people, supportive, consistent, and reflective. I can talk things through with them and they don't let problems escalate."

Like Nikki and Emma, children and young people are looked after by the local authority in foster placements when their own family, for whatever reason, is unable to care for them. It is often a time of turmoil and the one thing they need is someone who will be there for them, listen to them and support them with whatever challenges they are facing.

Nicky from Waterlooville is one of Hampshire's dedicated team of foster carers. She and her husband Steve have looked after around 25 children in the five years they have been fostering. They currently have four boys living with them and their own teenage son. "It certainly makes for a full house," said Nicky, "but I can't remember it being any different. It's the little things which make it so rewarding. I had one little boy and no-one had ever sat and read a book with him. He was so happy to do that and his enjoyment was great to see."

Nicky mainly fosters older boys now and it is not without its challenges: "It's not always easy," she said "but when you see a young person who may have come to you troubled or quiet and withdrawn, gain in confidence, smile and succeed at things they didn't think they could do, it is worth it."

It is not just the child who benefits. Nicky is in touch with one mum of two boys she cared for. "Mum really turned her life round so she could have her boys back. She and the boys are doing well. That's when fostering really works and it is a pleasure to see."

The County Council is always on the lookout for more people, like Nicky, who can rise to the challenge and make a real difference to a vulnerable young person's life by being a foster carer. Right now the County Council is especially keen to hear from people who can offer a stable and caring home environment to a teenager, sibling groups, or children with complex needs. Opportunities exist which range from long-term caring roles to respite and short break care. Carers are also needed to support parents and babies.

Anyone can be a foster carer as long as they have what it takes to care for children. To help foster carers Hampshire County Council has a range of training courses and comprehensive support recognised by Ofsted who judged the Fostering Service to be good with outstanding features. The Council also offers a competitive package of fees and allowances according to skills and experience.

John Coughlan, Hampshire County Council's Director of Children's Services said: "Foster carers like Nicky are vital to us - without them our job of ensuring good outcomes for vulnerable children would be much harder. It can be challenging at times as all parenting can be, but carers tell us it is a very rewarding role and as we can see from the testimony of Nikki and Emma being a foster carer is a chance to make a real difference to children's lives."

To find out more about how you can make a difference, call the Foster Care team on 0845 603 5620 or log on to the website.

• Foster with Hampshire County Council

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

To mark Dementia Awareness Week (19 - 25 May), Hampshire County Council is holding a number of events to promote greater understanding of the condition, which mainly affects older people.

Dementia Awareness Week is the Alzheimer's Society's annual flagship awareness-raising campaign and this year's theme is 'talking'.

The events are being co-ordinated by Andover Mind, who are commissioned by Hampshire County Council to deliver the new Hampshire-wide Dementia Friendly Communities project, as well as provide services for people with dementia and their carers.

Around one quarter of the population of Hampshire is likely to be over the age of 60 by 2026 with the largest growth being in the number of people aged 85 and over. One in six people over the age of 80 have dementia but currently only a third to a half of older people with dementia receive a diagnosis. People can, and do, live well with dementia and early diagnosis can improve a person's quality of life and help them to maintain independence for longer.

Monday 20 May 2013

• Alresford Library 10.00am -1.00pm: leaflets display/information session
• Information session at St Thomas' Care Home, Basingstoke

Tuesday 21 May

• Bishop Waltham Library poster/leaflets 2.30- 3.30 pm and Dementia Friends session
• The Wellbeing Centre, Vyne Rd Basingstoke - information session
• Fareham Library - find out more about dementia and dementia-friendly communities

Wednesday 22 May

• Fareham Shopping Centre - taking over a shop in the shopping centre with a display and several awareness raising information session
• Information session at Randell House, Blackwater

Thursday 23 May

• New Milton Mind Charity Shop, 118 Station Rd New Milton - raising awareness of dementia including a stand and posters

Friday 24 May

• Hart Shopping Centre in Fleet - find out more about dementia and how the community can help 9.30 -1.00pm in conjunction with Hart DC, Alzheimer's Society, Hart Voluntary Action and Minding the Garden

Saturday 25 May

• Hart Shopping Centre in Fleet - find out more about dementia and how the community can help 9.30 - 1.00pm in conjunction with Hart DC, Alzheimer's Society, Hart Voluntary Action and Minding the Garden

Monday 20 May - Friday 25 May

• Andover Library - display and information available at 'help point' in the library. Stand will be manned every morning during the week by Dementia Advice and DementiaFriendly Communities staff and volunteers.

Hampshire County Council, NHS Hampshire, Andover Mind and The Alzheimer's Society have teamed up to provide a Dementia Advice service across Hampshire to support the delivery of the Joint Hampshire Commissioning strategy for Older Peoples Mental Health.

The strategy identifies the need to develop further information and signposting services for older people with mental health needs and their carers. The Dementia Advice Service helps people access appropriate care, support and advice.

The new Dementia Friendly Communities project, commissioned by Hampshire County Council and delivered by Andover Mind aims to create an engaged community, enthusiastic about and supportive of people with dementia. The project will involve and empower people with dementia and their carers, giving them a role in developing communities which enable them to 'live well' with dementia.

Other ways the County Council supports work to help people with dementia and their carers is through grants to voluntary organisations.

• Dementia Awareness Week

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

More than £30million is being invested by Hampshire County Council in the Havant area to improve schools, and support older people to live independently for longer, according to reports presented to Members of Hampshire's Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel (BLAPP).

At their latest meeting (19 March), Councillors were informed of progress on a number of key projects. These included the official opening event last month of the enhanced learning environment and improved facilities for students, staff and the wider community at Havant Academy following £9million of refurbishments by the Council's in-house Property Services team.

Updates were also provided on a £20million project currently underway to transform, replace and refurbish buildings at Park Community School to provide a 21st century learning environment for the school's 900 pupils. Design plans were also unveiled at the meeting, for the provision of improved sports facilities at Warblington Community School where a synthetic turf pitch and floodlighting is due to be delivered to benefit pupils and the wider community, at a cost of around £1.03million.

Separate plans for the development of a health and wellbeing campus on the former Oak Park hospital site in Havant were also outlined to BLAPP Members. The scheme will see the creation of 50 extra care homes to provide older people with a secure place to live but with care and support on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Extra Care housing also has the benefit of allowing couples, who may have very different care needs, to stay together. The proposals also include plans to create a 30 bed nursing home.

County Council Leader, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "In spite of very difficult ongoing financial challenges across the public sector, this overall package of improvements and redevelopment in the Havant area represents a significant investment by the County Council in the long term future of the area. These new school developments will not only give pupils the best possible start in life with the provision of outstanding learning facilities, but the local community is also set to benefit.

"Meanwhile, the development of a Wellbeing Campus in Havant represents our long term vision and commitment to new ways of delivering social care to meet the future demands on our services from an increasingly elderly and frail population. Through this pioneering scheme, we aim to provide greater choices and independence so that older people continue to be well-supported in their local communities."

Recommendations from the BLAPP meeting will go before the County Council's Executive Member for Policy and Resources for approval on 18 April 2013.

• Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel

Monday, 18 March 2013

Having a fall can have a serious impact on anyone's life - but for older people the consequences are even greater, including a loss of independence, mobility and confidence as well as the time it takes to recover.

That's why Hampshire County Council and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust have teamed up to prevent falls and keep older people independent for as long as possible by organising Steady and Strong community exercise classes across the county.

The benefits of exercise for general health are widely recognised - but specific, tailored exercises improve strength and balance and help reduce falls and injuries by 50%. By preventing falls, older people's chances of staying independent at home are significantly increased and they can continue to live an active lifestyle.

Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Felicity Hindson said: "When older people have a fall it can have devastating results so prevention makes a lot of sense. By keeping fit and mobile, older people can help themselves to stay independent in their own home, which is what everyone wants.

"Steady and Strong classes help older people gain strength and confidence in their mobility. The classes are also sociable and fun and people benefit from the encouragement of others. A wide range of health professionals are now signposting older people to the new classes but you can also contact the instructor yourself if you feel at risk of falling because you're unsteady or have lost confidence in getting out and about."

There are classes running in most parts of Hampshire in a variety of locations including church halls, community centres, leisure centres and sheltered housing schemes. Classes are all taught by qualified postural stability instructors, who have been specifically trained to reduce falls in older people.

Pamela from Hythe fell on her sternum (chest bone) last year. As a result, she was worried about going out, had to use a walking aid and experienced considerable pain. Her GP recommended the Steady and Strong classes at Hythe Medical Centre and after only a few classes, Pamela is walking outside for 20 minutes each day, has virtually no pain and is confident about going out: "After attending the classes and listening to Gilly the instructor, I have more confidence and believe in what I can do. It's the right teaching for us older people."

To find out more about local classes in your area call Sophie Jevons, Falls Prevention Coordinator on 01962 846605, or email: wellbeing@hants.gov.uk

• Better balance for life: Independent living for older people in Hampshire

Thursday, 28 February 2013

Being able to do the same things as everyone else - that's the aim of Hampshire County Council's transformation of day services for people with learning disabilities, which is marked on Friday 8 March with the official opening of the new Basingstoke Community Link by Cllr Felicity Hindson, Executive Member for Adult Social Care.

The contemporary designed facility provides a drop off point in the Discovery Centre, at the heart of Festival Place, for families to link with support staff from Basingstoke Day Services. Staff will then help people to get to their chosen activities by public or community based transport. Activities will be led by community based organisations, which include dance classes and gymnastics supported by Active Lives.

Facilities available at Community Link include access to a kitchen / server area, sensory and presentation area, a meeting room and access to IT for staff. The Community Link and Discovery Centre also provide changing facilities to enable people with complex needs to access the local community without being confined to the facilities of a traditional day service.

Once established, the Community Link in Basingstoke will provide a model for future community integration for adults with learning disabilities in line with the Government's Valuing People Now.

The new improved service follows consultation with users of County Council-run learning disability services, their families and carers, which sought views on how services should be provided in the future both for daytime services and also residential services and respite opportunities.

The changes include enhancing day services options to around 17 bases across the county, providing specialist day services for those with complex needs, and offering a wider choice of day opportunities for less disabled people. The focus is on bringing services closer to local communities to enable people to take part in a wider range of activities' something the consultation highlighted as important.

Modernising learning disability services will improve choice and provide better value for money for tax payers. Demographic trends show that demand for services is changing due to the increased needs of people using these services. The changes will increase choice for the most able people and ensure the Council continues to meet the needs of people with complex disabilities.

Councillor Hindson said: "We listened to what people with learning disabilities told us - that they want to live ordinary lives, have jobs and live in their own homes - this will mean continuing to provide services, but in new and different ways.

"The new Community Link is in a very central location which will help people with learning disabilities and their families feel a part of the local community and at the heart of what's happening in Basingstoke.

"We are modernising our learning disability services so that people have a greater choice and the flexibility to select from a range of services that meet their individual needs. Our aim is to lead the way by using our existing resources as effectively as possible."

• New plans for Learning disability in-house provision

Thursday, 28 February 2013

160 home assessments, over 50 heating systems fixed, 75 oil-filled radiators supplied and more than 600 residents helped - just some of the figures that demonstrate the success of Hitting the Cold Spots, Hampshire County Council's scheme to help older and vulnerable people who may struggle to keep warm and pay the bills during the cold winter months.

The scheme, funded by the Department of Health's 'Warm Homes, Healthy People Fund' and now in its second year, aims to give older people and vulnerable people of any age immediate and practical advice on reducing energy bills, increasing available income and keeping warm. Advice is available until the end of March 2013 from a trained advisor by calling a free number (0800 804 8601) and, depending on the situation, further help may also be on offer with free home assessments, access to efficient, oil-filled radiators and grants to assist with hot water and heating repairs using Buy With Confidence traders.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, Executive Member for Adult Social Care at Hampshire County Council said:

"Cold weather not only makes life uncomfortable but can also lead to, and aggravate, serious health problems such as respiratory diseases, asthma, depression, heart disease and strokes. Hampshire County Council's Hitting the Colds Spots scheme is building on last year's initiative with another campaign targeted at older and vulnerable people who may 'fall beneath the radar' and struggle to keep warm and pay the bills during the cold winter months.

"I'm very pleased that our Hitting the Cold Spots scheme is helping people to keep warm and these figures demonstrate just how important it is to offer a dedicated free advice line with a 'real person' to speak to who can give immediate, practical advice and follow up on the tougher problems.

"When people have had long-term problems with their heating systems or with paying their energy bills it can sometimes take a lot of courage to make that first call and it is encouraging that more and more people are finding the confidence to call our energy advisors."

Case Study

Mr and Mrs Stockwell, a couple living in Andover and with limited income, had constant trouble with their boiler. The pensioners, both suffering from long term illnesses, had an unpleasant shock before Christmas when a heating engineer gave them a quote to repair the boiler - with no guarantee that the boiler would not break down again.

They did not want to endure another Christmas without heating or hot water so they called the Hitting the Cold Spots advice line. An advisor subsequently visited to assess their home circumstances alongside the project's criteria, and also left a Hitting the Cold Spots support pack containing useful tips and equipment to keep warm at home and save money on fuel bills. The upshot was that just two days later the go-ahead was given to fund the installation of a new gas boiler and work was completed before Christmas by a Buy With Confidence trader.

The relieved couple said, "We have never sought help from anyone and have always paid our own way. The work was done very efficiently and very quickly and all is working perfectly. We received excellent support from Hitting the Cold Spots."

Since October 2012 HtCS has assisted over 600 Hampshire residents with information and advice, fixed over 50 heating systems, provided 75 oil-filled radiators, completed 160 home free home assessments and made over 500 referrals to partner organisations.

• Hitting the Cold Spots

Friday, 08 February 2013

In the wake of fresh concerns over horsemeat being found in some meat products sold in supermarkets across the country, parents of Hampshire schoolchildren and the families of residents in Hampshire County Council care homes are being reassured that beef in their meals is 100% beef.

Hampshire County Council provides around 8.5million meals each year to people in its care, some of whom are vulnerable. Hampshire's meals contain locally sourced ingredients such as Hampshire beef and pork, and meatballs and beef burgers on the lunchtime menu for schoolchildren are produced locally from Laverstoke Park Farm near Overton, which contain 100% beef.

With the price of a school meal once again frozen at £2 - for a fifth year in a row - free range eggs from the New Forest are also used, as well as apple juice from Selborne, and fish from well-managed, sustainable fisheries.

County Council Leader, Councillor Ken Thornber, said: "As we are serving around 45,000 meals each day to Hampshire pupils we have to be very sure about food safety. We take the food chain back to source by looking at where the food comes from, and we also carry out strict hygiene and cleanliness checks in school kitchens to ensure that the meals served to children remain of the highest standard. What's more, our school meals service remains the only one in the country to hold the Hyperactive Children's Support Group Award for the removal of over 70 additives in food that may cause children a behavioural or medical issue, such as colourants, sulphites and trans fats.

"In addition, our Hampshire Scientific Service check at source, all the suppliers of food provided by the County Council, and carry out stringent checks throughout the year, from supply to kitchen and all the stages in between, which also include verifying the authenticity of ingredients. We are unique in that few other local authorities do this.

"We also enforce standards through our Trading Standards Service and we have a higher focus than many authorities in this area. The food that we supply tends to be provided by local suppliers. By working with them through Trading Standards and monitoring the food we purchase, we believe we are helping local companies meet their statutory obligations, helping them stay in business, and ensuring the wellbeing of Hampshire residents.

"As a result of this thorough approach, we have been hailed an example of good practice and will continue to monitor the food we buy and supply, to ensure that we continue to meet our responsibilities, and provide reassurance to the people of Hampshire."

• Further information about the Hampshire Scientific Service

Friday, 18 January 2013

Meeting the demands of an increasingly elderly and frail population on services, making further investment in prevention and early intervention and promoting people's health and well-being are the key themes emerging from the 2013/14 budget proposals for Hampshire County Council's Adult Services.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Adult Social Care, will be asked to consider the budget for delivering services for older and vulnerable people, including younger adults with disabilities, at her Decision Day on 25 January 2013.

The budget for 2013/14 includes £94.5 million to continue providing vital services such as home, day and residential care - which is 1% more (£900,000) than the budget for 2012/13 (£93.6 million). Savings will continue to be made through efficiencies that protect core 'front line' services, with limited impact on staff.

There are no changes to the County Council's eligibility criteria for social care support which continue to be set at 'substantial' and 'critical' levels. Adult Services will continue to monitor the performance and quality of services - including safeguarding vulnerable people - with a strong focus on the user and carer experience.

The County Council has already committed up to £45 million to develop more Extra-Care facilities to promote choice and independence for older people and more schemes will be supported over the next few years.

By taking early and decisive action to respond to the national deficit reduction programme, Hampshire County Council has achieved savings of £100 million over the last two years, putting the Council in a strong position to tackle future funding challenges, which are expected to be even tougher from 2015/16.

The report sets out how Adult Services will achieve further efficiencies to reduce the budget by two per cent to help meet major pressures and demands, with proposed savings of £4.868 million split between efficiencies and additional income. However, grants to voluntary sector organisations, which help people stay independent for longer, are being maintained at the same level as last year.

An ageing and increasingly frail population with more complex needs, together with changes in health services is expected to continue to place pressure on budgets, so the next two years will be used to transform Adult Services to meet these challenges. This includes developing new ways of delivering social care - such as Extra-Care schemes and telecare - to ensure that Hampshire residents continue to receive quality services at the lowest cost. At the same time, the wellbeing of the 84 per cent of older people not receiving social care services is being promoted by working with voluntary organisations, so they are better supported in their communities.

The 2013/14 budget includes a wider roll out of telecare to allow people to stay independent for longer, efficiencies in transport for vulnerable and older people, matching day care places to demand and a review of important reablement services for elderly residents discharged from hospital, to include both in-house and commissioned care.

People using services for care at home will continue to be assessed to determine how much they contribute to their care. Hampshire County Council pays for the cost of care above the maximum contribution, and all proposed charges for 2013/14 take into account a small inflation increase of 1.5%, which is well below the national figure.

There are many challenges ahead but Adult Services is adapting and transforming services to meet the increasing demands from an ageing and frail population with more complex needs.

• Executive Member for Adult Services Decision Day meeting on 25 January

Thursday, 20 December 2012

As part of its commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable young people Hampshire County Council is increasing its support to young people leaving care.

At his recent decision day Councillor Roy Perry, Hampshire County Council's Executive Lead member for Children's Services approved enhancements to the support already available to young people leaving the care of the local authority.

Cllr Perry said: "Like all good parents I am keen to see that young people in our care feel able to strive to achieve goals and ambitions. I met with two of our care leavers recently and was most impressed by their determination to achieve their goals. One is completing his final year at university and the other has a job in the County Council's Trading Standards department following her successful completion of the Council's Internship Plus scheme. They told me that one of the most important things for them is being treated like any other young person.

"I want to ensure our care leavers have the same opportunities as any other young people and so want to remove any possible barriers which may prevent them accessing education, training or employment as they become young adults and move to independent living.

"The County Council already has a range of measures which help young people leaving care. These include apprenticeships and Internships which provide them with vital work experience, financial support to help them go to university and assistance to remain in supported lodgings or foster care while they are at university, as well as financial support to help them live independently.

"The enhancements I have agreed will build on this support and represent sound investment in these young people and their futures."

• The enhanced support which Councillor Perry approved includes:
• The extension of the Staying Put scheme to include young people leaving care aged 18-19 and in employment or seeking employment and to enable them to remain in supported lodgings or with foster carers. Previously this was only available to those in education or training.
• Paying travel costs to care leavers aged 18-19 who are employed for up to six months and for those who are unemployed but seeking employment for up to three months so they are incentivised to be in work.

Increasing the Setting Up Home allowance from up to £1,000 to up to £2,000 depending on an individual's needs.

In addition to the above assistance financial support is currently available for those attending university either as undergraduates or post-graduates.

This year the Full Council agreed a proposal from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, to make permanent its pilot initiative offering young care leavers internships. This provides opportunities for paid work placements within the County Council as well as opportunities to access relevant qualifications. Fifteen young people are currently taking part in the scheme.

• Financial support for care leavers

Monday, 17 December 2012

Hampshire's Meals on Wheels service is being improved from April 2013, including being more consistent and open to more older people.

Meals on Wheels currently provides over 200,000 vital hot meals to Hampshire residents. These hot meals not only contribute to a nutritionally balanced diet that helps older people stay warm and healthy, they also allow them to stay independent for longer.

The present service varies depending on where people live. From 1 April 2013, the Meals on Wheels service will be provided by Apetito on 365 days a year, either direct to people's doors or to a local lunch club. The new service will also cover the whole of the county so that any older person who wants a regular hot meal can have one.

In addition there will be the introduction of a new separate Meals Support Service. This will provide the opportunity for older people to request regular visits (either weekly, fortnightly, monthly) from a volunteer around meal times. These volunteers will provide the all important social contact and help older people keep in touch with local events and activities.

Councillor Felicity Hindson, Executive Member for Adult Social Care said: "It is important to reassure everyone who currently receives Meals on Wheels that they can continue to do so in the future."

• Meal delivery services

Thursday, 06 December 2012

Cold weather not only makes life uncomfortable but can also lead to serious health problems such as respiratory diseases, asthma, depression, heart disease and strokes. Hampshire County Council's 'Hitting the Colds Spots' scheme is building on last year's initiative with another campaign targeted at older and vulnerable people who may struggle to keep warm and pay the bills during the cold winter months.

Older and vulnerable people of any age can 'fall beneath the radar', because they are unaware of the range of options available or find it difficult to access help. Hitting the Cold Spots aims to give them immediate and practical advice on reducing energy bills, increasing available income and keeping warm. This advice is available through a free advice line (0800 804 8601). Depending on the situation, further help may also be on offer with free home visits by Hitting the Cold Spots advisors, access to efficient, oil-filled radiators and grants to assist with hot water and heating repairs using Buy With Confidence traders. In addition, information packs on how to keep warm at home are available via local voluntary community organisations - these include a room thermometer, cosy snood, children's activity pack and useful information.

The scheme, funded by the Department of Health, has already helped 300 Hampshire residents this year with issues such as switching to a cheaper energy tariff, accessing grants to cope with winter fuel emergencies, debt and benefit advice tailored to individual circumstances and assessment for mains gas connection. A third of these callers benefited from a further follow-up visit to their home by a Hitting the Cold Spots advisor who was able to offer them practical assistance with obtaining heating and hot water repairs. One of the advantages of the scheme is that it provides a one-stop shop for many different problems which together may seem insurmountable for an individual. As one satisfied customer from Gosport said about the Hitting the Cold Spots advisor's help, "He sorted everything out. I would have been overwhelmed by it."

Councillor Felicity Hindson, Executive Member for Adult Social Care at Hampshire County Council said:

"I'm very pleased that our Hitting the Cold Spots scheme is helping people to keep warm and addressing winter fuel poverty among older and vulnerable people. The scheme offers a dedicated free advice line with a 'real person' to speak to who can give immediate, practical advice and follow up on the tougher problems.

"When people have had long-term problems with their heating systems or with paying their energy bills it can sometimes take a lot of courage to make that first call and it is encouraging that more and more people are finding the confidence to call our energy advisors."

The easy way to find out more information is to call the dedicated freephone advice line 0800 804 8601 where one of the Hampshire-based, friendly and knowledgeable energy advisors from the Environment Centre will be able to give immediate, impartial and practical help.

Community groups can get more information on how to become involved, and on all aspects of Hitting the Cold Spots, by calling the freephone advice line.

• Hitting the Cold Spots