400 vulnerable social housing tenants receive winter warmer packs

Six Town Housing (STH) are delivering Winter Warmer packs - containing food, warm socks and more - across the borough to some of the most vulnerable tenants living in the homes they manage on behalf of Bury Council.

400 packs are being distributed this week to elderly, disabled and other vulnerable tenants across the borough by STH, their contractors, Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), Greater Manchester Fire Brigade and tenant volunteers.

The packs contain warm socks, non-perishable food and Christmas treats - including pasta and sauce, baked beans, porridge, soup, biscuits, tea bags and hot chocolate - donated by STH’s partners and suppliers. They were distributed by staff who were also able to speak to tenants and ask if they needed any other support during the winter months. The tenants will also receive a further “safe and well” visit from the fire service later in winter.

Recommendations of tenants to receive packs were confidentially referred to Six Town Housing by partners, including the police, social services and community centres.

Debbie Standring, community development worker at STH, said: “The winter period can be a difficult and lonely time for some of our tenants -who may not be able to get out to the shops due to the weather, feel isolated or struggle to keep warm in their home due to the cost of heating - so we think it is important to be able to make that contact and check they are okay. I love delivering the packs; it genuinely feels like it makes a huge difference.”

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Bury Council’s cabinet member for finance and housing, added: “While some are enjoying the Christmas period and spending time with their families, others can be struggling to eat, keep warm or face long periods of time alone. If you have a friend, family member or neighbour you think might be more at risk this winter, I’d urge you to visit them to make sure that they are safe and comfortable.”

Kiera Delaney, chair at Chesham Fold Community Centre, whose volunteers helped pack, store and distribute Winter Warmer bags, said: “Our winter warmer packages are an important part of our community making sure that in our coldest months our most vulnerable tenants don’t have to choose between food or heating. A fantastic gesture from Six Town Housing and it was a pleasure to be involved with it. A lovely day with lovely people all for a great cause.”

This year, more than £2,000 in funding or items have been donated by Six Town Housing’s contractors for the packs, including Procure Plus, Procare, Nova, Envirovent, Rexel, SIG, Novus Solutions and A Connollys.

ENDS

Press release issued: 13 December 2017.

Picture: Six Town Housing community development worker Debbie Standring presents a Winter Warmers parcel to Radcliffe tenant Lily Shephard.