Charities and Organisations
In this section you will find information about the variety of community based organisations and charities who are able to offer support and advice on what is available for you to access closer to home. By the end of this section, you will know:
- What support is available
- Who to contact
- Who to speak to for more information
Age Cymru
Age Cymru is the national charity for older people in Wales and we're here when we're needed the most.
More than ever before, older people are facing some of the hardest challenges imaginable. Some live in poverty or can’t get the basic care they need to live with dignity. Sadly, older people often have to face these issues with no-one to help or support them – loneliness is a daily struggle when you only have the TV or radio to keep you company.
That’s why Age Cymru is here. Our vision is a society which offers all people in Wales the best experience of later life. Older people are valued, included and able to shape decisions affecting their lives.
Our mission is to improve the lives of older people by delivering trusted advice, support and services. We use our knowledge, insight and experience to influence policies and decisions affecting older people.
We are here for older people when they need us.
If you’d like to talk to someone in Welsh or in English, you can call us on 0300 303 44 98, charged at local rate and open between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday. You can also email us at advice@agecymru.org.uk
Warm Wales
Support households across Wales to become warmer, safer and healthier. We will deliver a package of interventions, tailor made to a households’ needs to ensure the root causes of the problem are identified and addressed. By providing free advice, guidance, support and awareness, Warm Wales will reduce the issues created by the energy crisis and bring resilience, sustainability and empowerment to communities across Wales.
“Our mission is to empower people to make the correct choices and decisions for themselves, enabling them to reduce their likelihood of being in fuel poverty and become more resilient”.
- Energy: help and advice with understanding energy bills, support with fuel debt, smart meters, savings, and discounts.
- Heating: support with applications to Nest, a Welsh Government-funded scheme, providing replacement boilers, central heating systems, and insulation to qualifying households
- Income maximisation: support and signposting for benefit checks andcouncil tax reduction applications
- Home adaptations: support accessing grab-rails, level access showers, stairlifts, etc.
- Priority Service Register: free registration with gas, electricity, and water providers for qualifying households.
To make a referral either self or on behalf of got to our website https://www.warmwales.org.uk/getting-support/ or call 0800 091 1786.
Care & Repair - Older not Colder
Older Not Colder is a Wales-wide service that helps older people to keep their homes warm and reduce their energy bills. The service is for people who live in Wales, are over the age of 60 and who own their own home or privately rent. We can visit and asses your home and
give you free expert advice. We will even try and find funding for you if you need repairs or work to improve the energy efficiency or warmth of your home.
Care & Repairs’ Home Energy Officers can assess needs and give residents expert advice.
They can:
- Assess your home to make sure it is insulated and warm.
- Offer advice on ways to save energy at home.
- Ensure that your heating system is safe and efficient.
- Help solve damp, mould and condensation issues.
- Support you if you are struggling with energy bills.
- Help you to apply for grants to help you keep warm.
To request a free visit from a Home Energy Officer, please contact Care & Repair
Tel: 01495 745936
Email: enquiries@crmon.org.uk
SCOPE
Cost of living is increasing and for disabled people and their families, costs are increasing on essential goods and services like; heating, insurance, equipment and therapies.
These extra costs mean disabled people have less money in their pocket than non-disabled people, or go without.
Their web site offers free energy and water advice for disabled people. The service is open to:
- Any disabled person or household where 1 or more disabled person lives
- Households in England and Wales
Tel: 0808 801 0828
Riverside Advice
Mathew Ford is the local Newport advisor and is based at The Hive, Stow Hill
Riverside Advice is a charity – the oldest welfare benefits advice charity in Cardiff – that provides free support with the following:
- Applying for benefits and challenging sanctions and discrepancies.
- Appealing benefit decisions all the way to tribunal.
- Completing benefit checks to ensure you are receiving everything that you are entitled to.
- Applying for white goods and furniture.
- Housing and rogue landlord advice.
- Debt and arrears advice, including, if there is no other option, applying for Debt Relief Orders or bankruptcy (Riverside Advice has a fund to pay for bankruptcy fees).
- Issuing Foodbank Vouchers and Fuel Vouchers.
Based at The Hive in Newport City Centre (10 Stow Hill, Newport. NP20 1JB) on a Tuesday afternoon from 14:00 and Fridays from 09:30 until closing.
Alternatively please email: all.info@riverside-advice.co.uk
Newport City Council Financial Inclusion Service
Offers financial guidance and support where there is a clear housing need e.g. difficulty managing tenancy because of rent arrears, behind with household bills such as council tax.
The service can support with managing money and budgeting, access to and support to manage appropriate benefits, referring to and liaising with specialist debt services where required, applying for lower social tariffs, grant applications.
The service is open to anyone with a housing need and must be referred or self-refer via the Newport Gateway, followed by an assessment of needs.
Telephone: 01633 656656
Webpage: www.newport.gov.uk/en/Care-Support/How-social-services-can-help/Supporting-people.aspx
Referrals made via: newport.gateway@newport.gov.uk
Ongoing Support
Newport City Council do offer various drop in surgeries to chat with the Cost of Living Teams about your specific situation and how they can best support you. Please have a look at their Facebook page, that is regularly updated with information on these sessions.
Facebook: Newport City Council
Alternatively you can make an appointment with one of their team via this email address: costofliving@newport.gov.uk
