THE RURAL COFFEE CARAVAN – WINTER WARMTH
Helping people in Suffolk stay warm and well
Energy Advice
Rural Coffee Caravan Community Engagement Officers can provide specialist energy guidance on organisations, and agencies who can be approached if you are struggling to stay warm in your home. Get in touch with us us by emailing info@ruralcoffeecaravan.org.uk and we will pass this on to the engagement office for your area who will contact you at the earliest opportunity.
Our Community Engagement Officers can offer information on:
- Smart Meters and how to go about getting one if you want to change
- The Priority Services Register for extra support when there is a power cut and how to join it
- Being granted support items from our winter appeal, such as slow cookers and wearable blankets.
- Eligibility for Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance to help boost income
We can also direct you to organisations that can advise on and provide:
- Heating grants and benefits
- Loans of temporary heaters
- First time free central heating
- Home insulation
- Community Oil buying.
Slow Cooker Appeal
Cooking With Kindness
Rural Coffee Caravan Chief Executive, Ann Osborn, with slow cookers and cookery books donated via our Winter Warmth Appeal
Food poverty and fuel poverty go hand in hand and, with consistent increases in our energy bills and with this year’s changes in eligibility for winter fuel allowances, many more people across the county will be faced with making difficult choices between heating their homes and eating.
In December 2020 we began an annual winter appeal to raise money for slow cookers to help provide Suffolk households in need with the means to cook hot, nutritious meals.
So far, we have given out more than 1,000 slow cookers and this last year we have helped to provide slow cookers, wearable blankets and other winter warmth items to even more families and individuals across the county, but many more are needed, so we have now launched our latest Winter Appeal.
Click here to go to our Local Giving page to donate to our ‘Cooking With Kindness’ Winter Appeal 2024/25
Slow cookers use very little power but allow cheaper ingredients to be made into delicious nutritious meals. In fact they can be used for a whole variety of foods and make a very healthy option for anyone experiencing fuel poverty. Warming nutritious meals help the recipients stay well through winter and beyond.
As always these will be distributed responsibly, making sure they are going where they are most needed.
We know times are harder for us all but it doesn’t matter how small the donation, every single £1 helps to make a significant, positive difference to the lives of families and individuals throughout Suffolk.
Shares and retweets of our social media posts will also help the appeal! Thank you for your support.
Slow Cooker Recipes
The Rural Coffee Caravan friend and supporter, Nadine, is a trained chef with many years of experience. She loves to feed people and to see the joy food can bring.
Although Nadine hasn’t lived in Suffolk for over 20 years she still has strong friendship ties to the county and is delighted to help the people of Suffolk during these financially testing times. By offering some great foodie ideas for using the slow cooker, Nadine hopes to inspire our readers to use their own, to cook tasty, wholesome and energy efficient meals.
Click on the image to open a printable PDF containing five of Nadine’s tasty Slow Cooker Recipes: Mac & Cheese, Chicken Fajitas, Salisbury Steak, Rice Pudding and Chocolate Banana Bread.
Warm Welcome Spaces
Is your community thinking about setting up a Warm Welcome space this winter?
Let us know and we’ll add you to our map.
Below is some useful guidance.
Money saving expert, Martin Lewis, has teamed up with CILIP, the UK’s library and information association, to back a guide offering advice to libraries and other community buildings who are considering becoming “warm banks”.
Follow the link to open the guide. A Warm Welcome PDF
CAS – Really Useful Guide to Warm Rooms (2022) has been created to provide a useful, practical guide to support you as you set up, or consider setting up a venue as a Warm Room or Warm Welcome Space.
This guide has been created by Community Action Suffolk (CAS) in partnership with the Rural Coffee Caravan and is intended to support anyone thinking of creating a Warm Welcome space in their premises. It provides an overview of what you may need to consider, as well as sources of further
information and resources – supporting you to successfully set-up and manage a Warm Warm Welcome space.
Follow the link to open the guide: CAS – Really Useful Guide to Warm Rooms PDF
Useful Links
Follow the links below for more information on cost of living support in Suffolk, winter warmth help and energy saving ideas.
Pension Credit – extra money to help you cover your costs if you’re over State Pension age and living on a low income. Being eligible for Pension Credit can support eligibility for the government’s ‘Winter Fuel Allowance.’ You can still get the 2024 Winter Fuel Payment if you apply for Pension Credit by 21 December 2024. Click to view the Independent Age guide to Pension Credit or chat with a member of our team at your nearest Rural Coffee Caravan Village Visit for help with eligibility & applying.
Attendance Allowance is money for people of pension age or over who have care needs or need help with activities of daily living. It’s estimated that more than a million pension-age households could be missing out on Attendance Allowance support. Chat with a member of our team at your nearest Rural Coffee Caravan Village Visit to see if you are eligible.
Surviving Winter appeal for 2024/25 – Suffolk Community Foundation have launched their Surviving Winter Appeal for 2024 to raise vital funds to help vulnerable older people stay warm and well when the cold weather hits. The campaign is now in its 14th year and has raised more than £1.5m so far. This has provided a lifeline for many thousands of people by helping them to stay safe and healthy in their own homes as the weather turns colder.
Suffolk Libraries Warm Welcome – Suffolk Libraries provide a safe, warm sanctuary for anyone to spend time in or find support and resources. The libraries offer free WiFi and computer access, free period products, free events and activities for all ages, and free books, including extensive eLibrary services. During cold months, there are also free hot drinks, warm clothes, free device charging and other essential items. Find out which of these offers your local library has by following this link.
Be Winter Ready Advice on preparing for storms, bad weather and power cuts, what to do if you smell gas or are worried about carbon monoxide fumes, getting extra help from your network provider, and more.
How Emergency Power Cuts Work Information from the ENA about emergency power cuts in the very unlikely event of a national energy shortage.
Water Care – Anglian Water offer a Priority Services Register (for a range of people, from those with sight/ hearing/ mobility difficulties, to parents with babies under 12months old) and Extra Care Support for those who are worried about staying on top of their bills.
UK Power Network’s Priority Services register – for customers who need additional support or extra care, and support during power cuts.
Community Oil Fuel Buying Scheme Save money on heating oil via Community Action Suffolk/AF Affinity when your community purchases together.
Eastern Savings and Loans: Oil buying loan Assistance purchasing oil in Suffolk, an interest free loan (up to £500) in order to buy oil payable over 12 months (repayment from £41pm) and supporting to help pay towards future oil purchases.
West Suffolk Council have produced a Toolkit for Winter Support for Community Groups containing useful resources and links to help communities reach and support vulnerable households this winter. Click here for the PDF document.
Suffolk Local Welfare Assistance Scheme – Suffolk County Council Self referral online form for Suffolk households experiencing financial hardship, to gain financial help, guidance and advice.
Suffolk County Council directory of support services and help for Suffolk households through the ongoing cost of living pressures.
Help for Households The government is offering help for households. See what cost of living support you could be eligible for.
Warm and Well in Waveney Cost of living support, info and advice in Waveney if you have a disability or long term health condition.
Food Banks in Suffolk Find your nearest. Some food banks may only take referrals but some can be self referred to.
Basic Life Community Pop Up Shops Excess supermarket foods redistributed via community pop up shops. Customers can fill a bag for £2. Directory of locations and invitation to bring the service to your town.
