The Warm Homes Bedford Borough Service has been set-up by the local NHS and Bedford Borough Council to support local residents identified by the NHS as having a health condition that could be made worse by living in a cold or damp home.
If you are eligible for support, you should automatically receive a letter inviting you to contact Better Housing Better Health who are delivering the service on our behalf.
Better Housing Better Health will assess your situation and advise on free support to help your household stay warm this winter, including:
- receiving any benefits that you may be entitled to
- energy saving advice
- potential household modifications that will help to heat your home more efficiently
How has eligibility been assessed?
GP data has been analysed to identify more than 1,600 people with the following conditions who have had one or more emergency admissions in the last year, and have had a high level of healthcare use.
These conditions were selected on the basis of clinical advice as those that are most likely to be made worse by cold or damp conditions, or that require equipment at home that uses a lot of energy:
- Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Patients with severe asthma.
- Patients with cystic fibrosis.
- Patients at risk of stroke or transient ischemic attack.
- Patients with arthritis.
- Patients with severe frailty.
- Patients receiving palliative care.
I haven’t received a letter, can I still get help with my energy costs and heating?
If you are not eligible for support under the Warm Homes Bedford Borough service, you can still contact Better Housing Better Health for advice, information and practical support.
Go to the Better Housing Better Health website or call 0800 107 0044 for more information (calls are free from mobiles and landlines).
You can also visit our help with the cost of living webpage which has details of our Warm Spaces network, the Sustainable Warmth energy-efficiency upgrades scheme, and help with paying bills.
Translated versions of letters
We have included below translated versions of letters sent to residents - all PDFs:
How is Warm Homes Bedford Borough funded?
Warm Homes Bedford Borough is funded by a grant from the Bedfordshire Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board to support the implementation of population health management in Bedford Borough. The programme is funded until 31 March 2023, although some household interventions may be completed after March.