Vulnerable people set to be provided with 'warm boxes' to help through the winter in Inverclyde

Boxes containing items to help vulnerable people stay warm are set to be handed out during the winter period in Inverclyde.

Packages with products such as hats, scarves, gloves, socks, tea and coffee will be distributed to people in need in the area.

The initiative was confirmed as Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board (IJB) – the body that oversees health and social care functions – agreed the proposals at a cost of £30,000 on Monday.

An initial 500 boxes will be delivered to those receiving care at home support, with more to be circulated once further demand is established.

Other items that will be found in a box include a flask, torch and sugar and powdered milk to accompany hot drinks.

Kate Rocks, chief officer of Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), said: “We are developing warm boxes that are already going through, in some respects, our hospital to home team but we want to extend that to our care at home service.

“We know that older people have been less likely to put on the heating, so we want to make sure that they’re warm and that they’re getting the drinks and things like that that would make a difference.”

Other cost-of-living proposals were given the green light at the IJB meeting, including plans to increase the number of staff that can access and distribute hardship and destitution funding to those in need.

Up to £300,000 will be made available by the HSCP to be distributed to service users for this initiative.

Additionally, the organisation will work with third sector colleagues to set up a fund in which community groups can access money that can be given to the most financially vulnerable in Inverclyde.

The HSCP will allocate up to £100,000 for this particular scheme.

The plans follow a series of relief measures – worth in excess £360,000 – which were agreed by the council to help people during the ongoing crisis.

The package of support, which includes funding for warm spaces and to tackle food insecurity, was approved by councillors at the recent policy and resources committee.

A total of £83,000 will go towards doubling the Scottish Government’s Christmas child payment to £260 for 638 eligible young people, while £50,000 will be provided to the Scottish Welfare Fund for community care and crisis grants.

The local authority has also set aside £100,000 for the Warm Hand of Friendship programme, which aims to provide residents with access to warm spaces, food and clothing during the winter, and £100,000 to help mitigate food insecurity.

A sum of £30,000 was identified to provide fuel poverty payments which will support people who need help to pay for their heating.