Stay healthy, warm and well during the cold weather

As the weather turns cold and wintry, we have gathered advice on how to keep your home warm, efficient, and safe, along with information on available support. Additionally, we offer tips on how to best care for yourself and others.

The Met Office has produced a useful bank of information to help you get weather ready and stay warm and safe during cold weather.

To keep up to date with the latest forecasts, visit the Met Office's website.

Looking after yourself and others

Whilst exposure to cold can affect anyone, some people are particularly at risk, including people aged 65 and above, people with heart, circulation, respiratory or mental health conditions, pregnant women, young children, and people living in deprived circumstances.

There are a variety of ways you can support yourself and those around you to stay healthy and well as temperatures drop, including: 

• Getting vaccinated. Protect yourself and others against winter respiratory illnesses, especially if you or someone you know has a long-term health condition. Check your flu and COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, or ask your pharmacist or GP. The Kew Community Trust is offering free drop-in winter vaccine clinics for eligible adults every Thursday
• Addressing minor winter ailments promptly. Check NHS England’s advice to manage symptoms of colds and sore throats. Your pharmacist, NHS 111, or GP are also there to support you. In an emergency, dial 999
• Checking in on friends, family, or neighbours to see if they’re unwell or need any help. If bad weather is forecast, ensure they have enough food and medicine. If you’re concerned about someone’s health, contact NHS 111, or in emergencies, call 999. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, slow breathing, confusion, and pale, cold skin.

Find out how to look after your health during winter weather.

Keeping warm at home and accessing local support

Simple changes can help to keep you and your home warm. Try to keep the rooms you spend the most time in, like the living room and bedroom, at 18°C or warmer. Small changes make a difference: reduce drafts with affordable draft excluders, wear layers to keep warmer, and move around regularly to keep circulation going. If visitors are coming, ventilate rooms briefly to reduce the spread of germs.

If you are struggling with the cost of living, we have a wide range of support available through our Cost of Living Hub, including: 

• Local food support services
• Warm Home Packs for eligible residents who need help to keep their homes warm and reduce energy bills, as well as a Winter Warmth Home Service and winter fuel support for eligible residents
• Our Cost of Living Support Calculator, to help you determine what additional financial support you could be entitled to 
• A network of community spaces. These are safe, friendly spaces to engage with others, and in some cases, share a drink or a meal. Find your nearest community space by visiting our Cost of Living Directory

Further information

For more advice visit:

• Met Office for information on how to get your home and property winter ready 
• Help for Households (GOV.UK) to see what support is available to help with the cost of living
• Age UK for help with the cost of living
• NHS England for information about winter vaccinations and winter health