Warm and Safe Wiltshire | How we can help

free telephone advice

financial assistance

Helping you stay warmer for less

Not being able to afford to heat the home is a major problem for many households and can result in high fuel bills and poor health.

Cold homes can pose a greater health risk to people with existing physical and mental health conditions, disabilities, elderly people or those with mobility conditions, as well as babies and young children. Cold homes can also cause people to take longer to recover from illnesses, particularly those recently discharged from hospital.

We provide free and impartial advice that helps you keep your home warm and reduce your bills. We can also refer you to the fire service or home improvement agencies to reduce the risk of falls and fires, making your home safer as well as warmer.

Scroll down the page or click on the links to read about what services we offer:

Free telephone advice and home visits
Financial assistance
Help with bills
Heating and Insulation grants and loans
Other help
Help with your water bills
Fire safety visits
Free benefit check referrals
Locking cooker valves

1. Free telephone advice and home visits

Our advice line service is open 9-5pm Monday-Friday. The number to call is 0800 038 5722.

You can also contact us using the form on this page.

In some cases, we can offer free home visits to help with issues that may be difficult to deal with over the phone.

Our advisors offer free and impartial advice on:

Understanding your fuel bills.
Top tips on the simple ways to save energy and lower your bills.
Guidance on heating systems and controls.
Eligibility for heating and insulation grants and fuel vouchers.
Issues with damp and condensation.
Fuel debt advice.
Switching energy suppliers and fuel tariffs.
Signing up to the Priority Services Register.
Discounts and support with your water bills.

2. Financial assistance

Help with bills

In some situations we may be able to identify that you are eligible for extra support towards your utility bills. If you are struggling to pay we will check your eligibility for any vouchers or rebates you may be able to claim such as the Warm Home Discount which is £150 paid by your energy supplier.

Heating and Insulation grants and loans

Installing insulation or upgrading your boiler can make a real difference to the warmth of your home and help lower your energy bills.

If you have a low income or receive income related benefits, Warm & Safe Wiltshire can make a referral to an installer for insulation and heating improvements and find out if you can receive funding towards it.

The funding is for people who own their home or are in the process of buying. In some cases, if you rent your home from a private landlord you can receive up to 50% towards the cost, but your landlord would need to contribute the rest.

Our advisors will assess your eligibility for any grants or loans based on your specific situation. In some situations a loan may be more appropriate, if this is the case you will be directed towards support from Lendology, who offer low interest home improvement loans to people on a variety of incomes across Swindon and Wiltshire.

3. Other help

Help with your water bills

If you are struggling to pay your water bill or are behind on payments, we may be able to help you get support from Wessex Water or Thames Water (the two companies who provide water to homes in Wiltshire).

Fire safety visits

We can refer you for a free fire safety visit from Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service. As well as fitting free smoke alarms, they will book an hour-long appointment with you to cover topics such as:

Using electricity safely.
Cooking safely.
Making an escape plan.
What to do if there is a fire.
Keeping children safe.
General good practice for fire safety.

Free benefits check referrals

Every year thousands of pounds worth of welfare benefits go unclaimed. We can help you find out if you are missing out on a benefit and the additional income that would help you manage your bills more easily.

Locking cooker valves

Locking cooker valves are suitable for customers, such as people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia, who can no longer operate their gas cooker safely.

In Swindon and Wiltshire, these are provided by Wales & West Utilities, and help people live independently in their own home while giving their family or carers peace of mind.

When a Locking cooker valve is installed, the cooker can be used under supervision, and locked in the off position when the key holder leaves the house or room. The valve only isolates the cooker, which means the central heating system stays on.

Wales & West Utilities can install a locking cooker valve free of charge (subject to survey) in agreement with the family or carer of a priority customer. They will need to be the responsible key holder.

To find out more, complete the simple form on this page.

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