FINANCIAL help to insulate homes, making the most of leisure centres and tackling homelessness are among One Island schemes to make the Island healthier and more supportive.
Other measures include encouraging more people to take up the IW Council’s pioneering free homecare for the over 80s scheme, bringing an extra 100 empty properties back into use and delivering over 160 affordable homes.
The Council is also pledging to enable 100 people with learning disabilities to live independently at home.
IW Council leader David Pugh, said: “Eco Island is about improving life on the Island for all. These measures in particular will contribute to the Eco Island aim of creating a healthy and supportive Island.
“Some of the initiatives will build on the success of last year’s One Island schemes such as free swimming and the free homecare that has enabled well over 1,000 people to remain in their homes when they would otherwise have gone into residential care.
“But others are new and just as innovative such as that to make £500,000 available to help insulate up to 1,500 Island homes.
“Not only does this insulation bring warmth to the homes of those who need support most, perhaps the elderly or young families, efficient use of fuel will also help the Island reduce its carbon footprint.
“It is an example of how our Eco Island vision can make a real, immediate difference to the lives of Islanders.”
Other initiatives announced in Cllr Pugh’s budget speech are designed to tackle to growing problem of homelessness.
Building on the success of the introduction of the council’s empty properties officer, the authority is pledging to bring into use a further 100 unused properties during 2008/09.
In addition is will work closely with housing associations and developers to ensure over160 new affordable homes are delivered during 2008/9.
The council will also focus on enabling up to 100 people with learning difficulties to live independently at home in line with the Government’s Valuing People policy.
Also announced by the leader was the council’s ongoing commitment to the free homecare for the over 80s scheme. In its first year, this has benefited around 1,000 people leading to a 23 per cent reduction in the number of people living in residential care and a 56 per cent increase in older people being supported in the community. It has also been featured in national media as a pioneering scheme.
To keep people in tip-top condition, the IW is also seeking to encourage 22,000 more visits to its leisure centres next year.
This will be done by upgrading equipment at many and by expanding the free swimming for children initiative introduced in last year’s round of One Island programmes.
