Domestic abuse
The response to COVID-19 has reduced interaction with friends and family and people are spending more time at home. For people suffering domestic abuse, home is not always a safe place, so the council is reminding people help is available.
If you, or someone you know, is being subjected to emotional, physical, financial or sexual abuse, you do not need to feel alone. Get in touch with the county’s services for immediate support.
In an emergency call 999.
Warm and well
To stay well in the winter, it is important to keep warm, particularly for older people, the young and those with chronic illnesses.
If you were born on or before 5 October 1954, you could get between £100 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills.
For help to reduce your energy bills, join the Switch and Save scheme.
If you are in crisis and need help to pay for energy, Warwickshire Local Welfare Scheme may be able to help.
Home safety
We are doing so much at home at the moment - working, looking after children, cooking and cleaning - so it can be easy to become distracted. Avoid fire risk by never leaving cooking and candles unattended and keep children safe by ensuring sharp objects and poisonous substances are out of reach.
Remember to carry out regular fire safety checks:
- Ensure that you have a smoke alarm installed on every level of your home
- Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed in all rooms where there is a fuel burning appliance
- Test all alarms at least once a month
- Make sure you have an escape plan to keep you and your loved ones safe
Find out more information about Fire safety or Keeping you and your children safe
Scams
Every day, even in the safety of our own homes, people are contacted by others trying to persuade us to part with our money. This may be at the door, over the phone, on the internet, by post or by email.
Top tips:
- Never provide any personal or financial information to a cold caller • Never buy from unexpected doorstep traders.
- Never respond to a scam letter, email or text
- Make sure you’re using official websites online
- If you receive a suspicious email, always check the sender’s email address to check if it is a scam
Find out more about staying safe from scams
Safeguarding
If you are a young person and you feel unsafe at home, or you’re worried about a friend or sibling, help is available. Call Childline on 0800 1111 any time or contact Warwickshire Children’s Services on 01926 414144 from 9am to 5.30pm on Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 5pm on Friday.
Outside of these hours, if you have an emergency, contact the emergency duty team on 01926 886922.