Supporting our most vulnerable this winter

Our most vulnerable residents are receiving extra support this year to stay safe and well.

Bury Council and partners are helping residents this winter through the Winter Well programme.

It includes the distribution of 450 Winter Warmer packs to those most in need across the borough and the opening of warm spaces where people can find a warm and friendly environment including refreshments and social activities, and advice.

Each year, Bury Council’s Public Health Age Well team works with a wide range of partners to provide practical support and advice to help residents remain healthy during the colder months while signposting people to local and community services.

The Winter Well programme is there to support residents with cost-of-living pressures, heating and fuel costs, food and nutrition, mental wellbeing, physical health, and vaccinations.

Distribution of Winter Wellbeing Packs to Bury’s most vulnerable residents is a key part of the programme.

They contain essential items such as thermal socks, blankets, snoods, thermal food and soup containers, heat packs and hand warmers, wind-up torches, Independent Age Winterwise booklets, and information leaflets about local support including hot food provision.

To make sure the packs reached our most vulnerable residents, they were supplied to numerous community organisations across the borough for onward distribution.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:

“Many households are struggling with the cost of living, especially at this time of year, and we hope that these packs will help make a difference at such a difficult time.

“It ties in with the hard work that the council and its partners are doing to address health inequalities in our borough.

“The packs are well received and have been given out to families, elderly individuals, those who are homeless and other vulnerable groups.

“Thank you for the help of businesses, partners and community organisations in putting these packs together.”

Jon Hobday, director of public health for Bury, added: “For many of our residents, winter can be a difficult time, especially as the weather gets colder and infectious diseases start to spread. Our Winter Warmer packs are helping to provide the essentials for those with greatest need, and the Winter Well programme will be working throughout the coming months to help people in the borough to stay healthy, supported and connected”.

This work has been made possible through strong partnership working, involving Public Health, Bury Housing and Homelessness Teams, Staying Well Team, Live Well Service, VCFA, Bury Older People’s Network (BOPN), Health Protection Team, The Care Experienced Adults Team, GM Fire & Rescue Service, Climate Action Team, and Community Safety.

A big thank you also goes to the generous support of local businesses and services.

Morrisons kindly provided charitable contributions of gloves, blankets and socks, and Promo Gorilla played an important role in supporting the programme’s delivery by supplying essential resources, like thermal food containers and hand warmers at a discounted rate.

Also thank you to Bury Housing Services for their generous financial contribution, which helped enhance the project’s impact for tenants and added extra value to safeguarding events.

Residents can find more information about staying well this winter by visiting The Bury Directory’s ‘Looking After Your Health in Winter’ section, which provides advice on vaccinations, warm spaces, energy efficiency, financial support, and mental wellbeing.

For winter help: