Older residents in Barnet are being offered financial help to keep warm this winter, with a one-off energy grant and a free home visit to fit draught-proofing.
Age UK Barnet has launched its Winter Home Checks and Grants scheme. Eligible residents will receive £200, plus an additional £100 for each qualifying adult in the home.
The scheme is open to Barnet residents born on or before 27 June 1960, who receive a means-tested benefit and have less than £6,000 in household savings. The charity’s Handyperson service will visit to fit basic draught-proofing, helping to reduce heat loss and improve comfort at home.
Jenny Jean-Charles, advice services manager at Age UK Barnet, said winter can be a worrying time for many older people. Even small increases in energy costs can have a significant impact on those living on a fixed income, she said, and some residents face difficult choices between heating their homes and meeting other essential expenses.
She encouraged anyone who thinks they may be eligible to get in touch, saying the charity wants older people in Barnet to know that support is available.
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest ways to cut heat loss: sealing gaps around doors, windows and floors keeps warm air in and cold air out, so a home stays comfortable without the heating running harder. For an older person on a fixed income, that small practical step can matter as much as the cash grant itself — the grant helps pay the bill, the draught-proofing helps the bill stay lower.
The eligibility rules are deliberately narrow — age, a means-tested benefit and a savings cap — so the money reaches the households most likely to be choosing between heating and other essentials. A two-adult household where both qualify would receive £300 in total, plus the free visit.
Anyone in Barnet who meets the criteria, or who knows an older neighbour who might, is encouraged to contact Age UK Barnet to check eligibility and arrange a visit before the coldest weather arrives.
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