HUNDREDS of households missing out on a winter fuel payment can apply for £200 to cover energy bills within weeks.
The help comes via the latest round of the Household Support Fund which is worth £421million.
The fund is designed to help hard-up households cover the cost of living, mostly through cash grants, supermarket and energy vouchers.
Each council across England has been allocated a share of the £421million pot and decides who to distribute money to.
North Devon Council has set aside £200,000 for pensioners receiving a council tax reduction but not pension credit.
The local authority said just under 1,000 pensioner households will receive £200 grants, the BBC reports.
Councillors in North Devon have expressed concern the roughly 1,000 who don’t qualify for pension credit could struggle to cover their energy bills this winter.
It comes after the Government changed the eligibility criteria for the winter fuel payment meaning only those on certain benefits, including pension credit, will receive the up to £300 payment.
We have asked North Devon Council how the £200 payments will be made, and when, and will update this story when we have heard back.
Eligible residents will be able to apply in the next few weeks via the council’s website.
You should be able to get help via the Household Support Fund if you don’t live North Devon.
Each council across England has been allocated a share from the £421million pot.
But each local authority gets to decide its own eligibility criteria.
That means what you are entitled to will vary depending on where you live.
Not all councils have decided what they will do with their share of the £421million yet either.
The best thing to do is contact your local authority to see if any help is currently on offer.
You can find what council area you fall under by the using the Government’s council locator tool via gov.uk.
The Sun recently shared a guide and interactive map to help those unsure figure out what they may be able to claim.
If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might be able to get a grant from your energy firm to cover energy debt.
British Gas is handing out grants worth £1,700 to struggling households through its Individual and Families Fund.
The fund is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers living in England, Scotland or Wales.
You won’t be eligible if you received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.
And you must be seeking a grant to clear outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account.
Crucially, you also need to have received help from a money advice agency within the last six months.
If you don’y qualify for help with British Gas, a number of other energy firms offer help to customers struggling with energy bill debt.
This includes OVO, Boost, E.On, E.On Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita.
The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.
Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.
It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.
The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.
Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.
In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.
AS October gets underway, it’s time to start preparing your garden for the upcoming winter months.
And according to a gardening pro, there’s an important job you need to do now to stop weeds becoming a huge issue next spring.
Not only this, but thanks to the green-fingered expert, there’s five things gardeners should do to winter-proof their gardens – and don’t worry, it’s super simple.
As the temperature drops and rainfall increases, our gardens are one of the first things to be affected by the seasonal change.
But luckily for you, Emily Green, an expert at Howarth Timber, has shared her top tips on how to protect your plants, shrubbery, and furniture from the winter weather.
The important job that she advised gardening enthusiasts to do this month is weeding.
It turns out that autumn is the best time to weed your garden in order to stop them becoming a huge problem next spring.
Emily claimed that weeds should be removed from the root, as she said: “As we all know, weeds may become an issue if allowed to grow wild, and if they aren’t managed early in the winter, they will become a greater problem in the spring.
“Weeds should be removed from the root, especially if they have grown through pavement joints or along garden edging.
“You might have to use a weed-killer, so try to choose one that is less harmful to the environment, and keep in mind that spraying close to your garden border may affect the development of surrounding plants.”
Not only this, but Emily also revealed the five things you need to do if you want to protect your outside space this winter.
If you want to shield your garden from the wet weather, it’s essential that you tidy it up.
Eliminating rubbish is key and Emily stressed the importance of removing any undesirable waste to your compost heap.
She also advised gardeners to trim perennial plants back to soil level, and make sure your potting shed is in good working condition.
However, she recommended that you should be sure to leave your soil alone as it needs protection from the miseries of winter, as over-digging can eliminate the natural decay that has contributed to the formation of a protective top layer.
In addition to this, Emily suggested that during the autumn season, gutter cleaning should be done on a regular basis to guarantee that water is constantly directed away from your property.
As well as this, the gardening guru stressed that protecting your garden from flooding is essential.
She advised: “Flooding can have a detrimental impact on your garden.
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
“As your soil becomes waterlogged, it saturates and kills the roots, so many garden plants and shrubs are unable to withstand heavy rainfall.
“So be prepared when the likelihood of heavy rain develops.”
In order to stop plants from rotting and dying, she suggested cultivating your soil all year round and consider planting them on raised beds to raise them out of harm’s way.
Flooding can occur when gutters become clogged, something that becomes increasingly more common in autumn with all the falling leaves.
Not only do you need to ensure that your garden is protected from flooding, but you should also focus on stripping back your plants too.
The gardening guru explained that this month, you should prune some of your plants and weed your garden, as she recommended: “Pruning your plants includes cutting off dead flowers, uprooting annual summer bloomers and pruning back your shrubbery before the first frost appears.
“Once you’ve done this, adding mulch and organic compost in and around your plants helps to protect them from the winter frost, and conserve their energy to bloom again in the spring.”
If you don’t have an inside space to store your garden furniture, this pro has shared the importance of making sure it is covered up.
The cold weather is not pleasant for your outdoor furniture since moisture and rainy spells can generate rust and mould.
CLEANING your outdoor furniture and furnishings is a relatively easy task, and requires household items already in your cupboards.
Here’s what you’ll need, according to gardening expert Daniela Venturini from Wayfair…
What you’ll need include:
Before cleaning your outdoor furniture ensure that the surfaces are free from excess debris and dirt from your garden, and remove any outdoor cushion covers where possible, as this will make the cleaning process much easier.
In a bucket of warm water, add a few drops of mild laundry detergent or washing up liquid to create your cleaning solution. For any tougher stains, such as harsh water stains or mildew, apply undiluted white vinegar to any stains and let it sit for about an hour in the sun.
3. Use a soft bristle brush to rub away stains
Using a soft bristle brush, gently rub your cleaning solution onto your garden furniture in small circular movements. After scrubbing, take a clean damp microfibre cloth and ensure that all detergent and soap suds are removed from your garden furniture.
After cleaning, take a clean towel and absorb the majority of moisture off your garden furniture and then simply leave in the sun to dry.
Therefore, to preserve your garden aesthetic and also extend the lifespan of your furniture, it is best to store garden furniture in a shed or garage if possible.
If this is not possible, then the gardening pro suggested purchasing some thick waterproof sheet covers that can be securely secured around them.
She also advised people to store cushions in waterproof bags.
If that wasn’t enough, Emily has also advised gardening enthusiasts to begin planting for next year.
As we make our way through October, the pro suggested that it is time to start planning for next spring by planting bulbs.
At this time of year, the soil is in its prime for planting tulips, daffodils, pansies and bluebells, so you’ll need to take action now if you want your garden to shine next year.
WITH Christmas just around the corner – many of us are looking for the best shopping deals to save some cash.
Thankfully, a shopping expert has revealed her top three tips to getting the best money-saving deals in B&M.
The Latest Deals team, comprised of expert shoppers took to social media to unveil their hacks.
The first hack the professional shoppers recommended was downloading the B&M scanner app.
The free-to-download app has a built-in scanner that allows customers to check the latest price on products in the B&M system while in stores.
It might seem like a chore but this can sometimes be the best way to find the best deals, especially as price tags on the shelf might be more expensive than the ones in the app.
The Latest Deals team said that “this is how deal hunters find crazy B&M bargains”.
In a TikTok clip, they added: “B&M drops prices on its system without updating price tags. To find the bargains, you have to go around scanning barcodes.”
The experts claimed that some deals include “air fryers for a few pounds and chocolate for pennies.”
The expert goes on to reveal the exact day you need to head to stores for the best bargains.
They reveal Wednesday morning is the best day and time of the week to get the most out of your B&M shop.
“A B&M manager told me that this is when most of the new reductions come in,” the savvy shopper revealed.
The third and final tip to secure bargain buys is simply buying for the future.
Stores are more likely to offer reductions when they’re trying to shift old stock, such as bargain goods in the days after Halloween and Christmas or cheap chocolates after Easter.
It might feel odd buying summer stuff in winter but prices are often slashed to their lowest to make way for new season products.
Sometimes, being prepared can save you money in the long run.
Shoppers have saved hundreds of pounds a year by using B&M's scanner app.
The scanner lets you see if an item’s price is cheaper than advertised on the shop floor label.
Products that are typically discounted are seasonal items and old stock that B&M is trying to shift.
The app is free to download off the B&M Stores mobile app via Google Play or the Apple App Store.
According to one ex-B&M manager, you’ll want to visit your local branch at 10am on a Wednesday too.
Here’s how you can join the B&M bargain hunt:
Shoppers should also keep an eye out for products with a white reduction sticker on.
This means they will have a certain amount slashed off the price shown on the label.
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TV STAR Amanda Owen has opened up about ex-husband Clive after marriage breakdown as they reunite on new TV show.
Our Yorkshire Farm stars Amanda, 50, and Clive, 69, are getting back together for a new docuseries which reveals their new working relationship post split. Although it wont be a romantic reunion.
Since their TV debut in 2011, we’ve watched Amanda and Clive Owen run their Yorkshire farm in Swaledale, while their brood grew to nine children before the couple split, after 22 years of marriage, in 2022.
Yet they’ve carried on farming Ravenseat together, and they’ve taken on a mammoth project – rebuilding the neighbouring stone barn, known locally as Anty John’s, to be a new family base, as they are currently tenant farmers.
“When Anty John’s was put up for sale, it was a dream come true,” says Amanda, 50. “This is for the future, because with all these children, they need to have a place that they can call home.”
However, the derelict building is listed, so there are strict rules about materials that can be used, there’s no proper road leading to the property and it has no roof. This would be a challenge for anyone – let alone a separated couple.
“I do his head in and he does my head in,” laughs Amanda. “But we are basically on the same side.”
The house got its nickname from Anthony John Clarkson, a mapmaker and diarist who lived there in the 1800s and whose writings have been a revelation.
“It’s the description of the parties, who was philandering, the arguments and gossip, reading about the fairs he visited and children being naughty,” says Amanda. “The core message I suppose is that, socially, not much has changed.”
The five episodes will follow the Owens through the first year of the project and they’re all getting involved, as much as they can.
“I’m viewing it as a labour of love, a complete nightmare and very expensive,” admits Amanda. “I’m Yorkshire through and through, so if I can cut a corner and save myself a bit of money, of course I will. But we’re a family and we have to make ends meet. We’re all going to wade in.”
Amanda admits there is already heated debate about which family members get to live there when the work’s finished.
“My preference would be someone who can at least tidy up after themselves,” she reveals. “It could be someone who thinks nothing of dismantling a carburetor on the kitchen table, or someone who watches television with a goat on their lap, or even someone who has a pony that likes to be groomed in their bedroom! Welcome to the countryside and Our Farm Next Door.”
When the pair parted in 2021 – it spelled the end for their hit Channel 5 series about Ravenseat Farm.
They both went on to do other tv work, Amanda becoming the Yorkshire Shepherdess. They also pursued other relationships.
She said that the fame they got from Our Yorkshire Farm put pressure on the marriage.
The Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen has lived most of her life in the public eye as her Channel 5 series Our Yorkshire Farm shined a spotlight on her rural life with ex-husband Clive and their nine children. Sadly, Amanda's relationship with Clive hit the rocks and in 2022 the couple announced their split. Let's take a closer look at the timeline of their relationship, plus Amanda's other notable romance...
Amanda married Yorkshire farmer Clive Owen, who is 19 years her senior, in 2002.
The couple welcomed nine children together over the course of their marriage.
Their nine children, in descending order of age, are Raven, Reuben, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clemmie, and Nancy.
There is a large age gap between some, with the oldest, Raven, now 23 and the youngest, Nancy, only 8.
Clive and Amanda appeared to be very much in love as they documented their home and working life together at Ravenseat in their Channel 5 series.
However, they shocked their fans on Thursday, June 9, 2022, when Amanda shared an Instagram post confirming that she and Clive had split.
She said: “Clive and I have are sad to confirm that we have made the difficult decision to separate.
“This hasn’t been easy, but we both believe it’s the right choice for the future of our family.”
Clive has since opened up about his part in their split, admitting his “anger drove her away.”
Following their split the Sun revealed that Amanda had been having a relationship with web designer Robert Davies, who is 22-years her senior.
He was a “good friend” to them, Clive said as he confirmed that Amanda’s new relationship began after they had separated.
However, in 2024, Amanda revealed that her relationship with Robert had ended and that they were no-longer on speaking terms.
Meanwhile, Amanda and Clive have become good friends and continue to co-parent their children and work together on the farm.
They will reunite for a new Channel 4 documentary series that will see them attempt to restore an neglected property on their land.
At the time she revealed: “We both saw other people. I knew about Clive’s girlfriend and we would tease each other.” she said.
“There were never any secrets. We’ve been open and honest with the children too.”
Amanda went on to have a relationship with Robert Davies.
One of the reasons they agreed to the series is to build a legacy for their nine children Raven, Reuben, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clementine and Nancy. .
Their son Reuben landed his own spin off series Life in the Dales, with Channel 5.
The cameras have come back into the Owen’s lives.
The Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and kids. is coming soon to More4.
