A campaign to help vulnerable and older people in Norfolk stay well this winter has been launched - with thousands of pounds available to charities and voluntary groups.
In Norfolk, every winter, more people fall ill or injure themselves than during any other time of the year, and that results in around 620 more deaths, compared to the summer.
The Stay Well This Winter campaign aims to tackle that, with Norfolk County Council Public Health and organisations across the county joining forces to try to prevent unnecessary deaths.
Measures that can be taken include keeping the thermostat at a minimum of 18 degrees celsius, checking on neighbours, getting flu jabs, and wearing non slip footwear.
As part of the campaign and in partnership with Norfolk Community Foundation, the Stay Well This Winter Fund is offering £38,000 of community grants.
From soup kitchens to slipper swaps, applications are welcomed from projects which help vulnerable and elderly people.
Graham Tuttle, chief executive of Norfolk Community Foundation, said: 'We have been involved in campaigns around winter wellbeing for several years, and have highlighted through our own Vital Signs research the worryingly high incidence of excess winter deaths affecting Norfolk.
'We are committed to offering grant aid to charities and voluntary groups who take steps to address this issue during the winter months, and are delighted to work with the wider Stay Well This Winter campaign to raise awareness and promote action.'
Margaret Dewsbury, chairman of the county council's communities committee, said: 'By promoting the practical support available such as the Stay Well this Winter Fund and encouraging residents to look out for each other we should be able to make a big difference to how people in Norfolk get through the winter.
'Last year there were some fantastic initiatives launched across the region, and this year the Norfolk Community Foundation are hoping to be able to fund many more projects across the county as part of the Stay Well This Winter campaign'.
Community groups are invited to apply for funding to help vulnerable people in the winter via Norfolk Community Foundation website www.norfolkfoundation.com
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