Be Winter Wise and Olly the Owl are back to help Cambridgeshire residents keep warm, safe, and healthy this winter.
Supporting the council’s vision for a healthy, fair and sustainable Cambridgeshire, the annual campaign will provide practical advice, useful information, and local support to help residents throughout the colder months.
Be Winter Wise will share guidance on:
- Support with the cost of living, including money saving tips and grants and how to apply for free supermarket voucher for eligible children, to help ease pressures on household budgets.
- Ways to look after your health and wellbeing, for example making sure you have any vaccinations you are eligible for.
- Winter gritting schedules and staying safe on the roads, particularly when it is cold and dark.
- Simple steps to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient.
- Where to find free and low-cost activities for all the family across Cambridgeshire, including support available in our libraries.
- Advice on how to prepare for weather conditions, such as freezing temperatures and flooding.
The campaign will also signpost residents to support available from local partner organisations who provide essential services during the winter months, from heating and energy advice to community-based wellbeing support.
As part of this approach, Be Winter Wise will empower residents to support one another and build resilience together.
Through promoting simple actions such as keeping in touch with older family and friends and looking out for those who may need some extra support during cold weather, the campaign encourages fair and cohesive communities to help make winter a little easier for all.
In addition, Be Winter Wise promotes small, simple actions that support a green and sustainable county, such as reducing waste and supporting local initiatives.
Together, these efforts help lower costs for households while reducing environmental impact.
Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Winter can be a challenging time for many of our residents. Our Be Winter Wise campaign is here to help you access the information and support you need for the colder months ahead.
“The campaign covers everything from community activities and warm spaces near you, to advice on preventing seasonal illnesses, simple ways to heat your home efficiently, and information on how we are creating safer journeys for everyone across our highways network.
“By helping residents to stay well connected to their communities, build stronger ties, and be more financially secure, we are ensuring fairness and opportunity wherever we can and enabling full, healthy lives for all.
“So, make sure you keep an eye out for Olly the Owl, our campaign mascot, who will be helping you to Be Winter Wise over the coming months."
Over the coming months, Cambridgeshire households will be encouraged to take a few simple steps to stay prepared if essential services like power, water and the internet are temporarily disrupted by everyday emergencies.
The county council will be sharing advice in support of the Government's recently announced 'Be Ready' resilience campaign, designed to help residents feel better prepared for events such as severe weather and cyber attacks.
For more information on Be Winter Wise visit www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/be-winter-wise or follow our campaign on social media, using the hashtag #BeWinterWise.Keep up to date with the latest travel and traffic updates this winter by following Cambs Traffic on X or Facebook.
