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A message from City Council Deputy Leader Cllr Sally Longford:
This afternoon, as part of his summer statement setting out the Government’s next steps for the country’s economic recovery from the pandemic, the Chancellor announced funding for a £2bn Green Homes Grant to improve the energy efficiency of UK homes. Housing stock is a major contributor to the country’s carbon emissions and in addition cold homes have detrimental health impacts. We have been calling for some time for a national strategy and investment plan to tackle the country’s cold and draughty homes to reduce carbon emissions and improve wellbeing.
The Green Homes Grant will cover at least two-thirds of energy-saving improvement measures up to a value of ÂŁ5,000, rising to ÂŁ10,000 for households on the lowest incomes. Energy-saving measures will lead to lower energy bills and savings are expected to be up to ÂŁ600 for a family, and importantly household impacts on the environment will be reduced. In addition ÂŁ1 billion has also been set aside for retrofitting public buildings to reduce carbon emissions and investing in green heating technology. The scheme is expected to launch in September and could support more than 100,000 jobs. Locally, it is likely that the funding for this for this programme will flow via our own Energy Services as we take a lead role for the Midlands.
Tackling fuel poverty has been a key priority for Nottingham City Council for a number of years now and we have already made great strides in this area including
- more than 7,000 hard-to-heat private and social houses have had external wall insulation
- more than 4,000 council homes fitted with solar panels to provide free electricity
- our District Heating Network provides affordable low-carbon energy to more than 5,00 homes and businesses.
Funding for de-carbonising homes is always welcome and I will be working closely with Energy Services to ensure that Nottingham can make the most of this funding as we strive to become carbon-neutral by 2028.
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Nottingham Together: Customer Hub
At the start of the crisis a huge problem became clear - each neighbourhood had residents who needed to self-isolate, but didn’t have local family or friends to help them. So how were they going to get support with essentials such as food shopping or collecting medicines? Our Customer Hub and Neighbourhood teams worked with community volunteers and found the solution.
Our Customer Hub on 0115 915 5555 became a lifeline. Vulnerable people could call our Customer Hub, and the team would connect them to our Neighbourhood Teams who work with an amazing network of local volunteers. There are more than 11,000 people in Nottingham who were on the government’s shielding list and an additional 6,000 people identified as socially vulnerable. Our Customer Hub team proactively called all of them – each one – to ask if they needed any help. If they couldn’t reach someone over the phone, then one of our Community Protection Officers would call at the address to check the person was OK.
As the lockdown eases there are still many people who are vulnerable to the virus. If you, or someone you know, needs support please continue to call our Customer Hub or visit our website for more information at Help for residents self-isolating
I’d like to thank our Customer Hub, Neighbourhood and Community Protection teams for delivering this vital service to help people through this crisis. You can meet some of the team in the following video. It shows how the service works - from an initial phone call asking for help, all the way through to engaging local volunteers. It’s been a phenomenal city-wide partnership effort. I’m so proud of how Nottingham people have worked together to look after our most vulnerable.
Thank you to everyone involved #NottinghamTogether
Support for mental health and wellbeing
Public Health England has produced a guide giving advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak. The advice is wide-ranging and regularly updated in line with the changing situation Guidance on mental health and wellbeing during Covid-19
Most people will find strategies that work for them and the difficult feelings associated with the outbreak will pass. Some people, especially those with pre-existing mental health problems, may need extra support. If you, or a loved one, needs support please know that local services are available to help you stay well over this period
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Turning Point, Nottinghamshire Mental Health Helpline is free to call on 03005550730 9am - 11pm 7 days a week
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Relate Nottinghamshire are offering 30-minute counselling sessions to anyone who has been affected by Covid-19. To book a session email [email protected] or visit https://www.relate-nottingham.org.uk/ for further information
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Nottingham resources and information to help you support your mental health during COVID-19. COVID-19 Mental Health Support
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Please click here for some of the answers to questions we’ve been asked about what you should do, and what we are doing, to respond to Coronavirus.
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