The Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Parliamentary Committee is to carry out an inquiry into Preparing for the Winter, including the continued exclusion of boat dwellers and other itinerant or off-grid households from the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). The Committee will hear verbal and written evidence in September 2023. You can send your own testimony to the Committee by email to commonsesnz@parliament.uk or by post to-Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. You can also submit evidence online here: https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/3185/
The deadline for submitting your evidence is 25th August.
Healthwatch Wiltshire is to run two advice sessions to help boaters get access to the healthcare they need. These will be on Friday 21st July 12pm to 4pm at the Canal Tavern, Bradford on Avon (below lock 14), and Saturday 29th July 12pm to 4pm at the Barge Inn, Honey Street. Come along if you need any advice registering yourself or your child with a GP, getting hospital treatment, and other issues.
The NHS has provided Covid-19 vaccinations free of charge to all adults and children aged 5 and over. After 30th June 2023, vaccinations will only be available for people who are at higher risk from severe Covid-19, and for most people they will usually only be available seasonally. If you’ve only had one Covid-19 vaccination, or none at all, make sure you get yours before 30th June.
Liveaboard boaters, both with and without a home mooring, are invited to a meeting with Danny Kruger, the MP for Devizes, tomorrow Friday 16th June 2023 at 3pm at Caen Hill Marina to continue to lobby for liveaboard boaters to be included in the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald will attend from 4pm; BBC Radio Wiltshire is also interested in covering the exclusion of liveaboard boaters from the EBSS. The meeting has been organised by Devizes Food Bank.
Julian House Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Boater and Showman Support Service is running fortnightly drop-in sessions providing advice and guidance on benefits and other financial support, healthcare and mental health services, housing and other council services, boat licencing and liaising with CRT, drug and alcohol support, No Fixed Address issues, help with paperwork and more! No need to book, just drop by!
There will be local elections in England on 4th May 2023. The Elections Act 2022 brought in the requirement to show photographic identification for voters at these and all future elections. If you already have the right ID document, remember to take it when you vote.
If you don’t have one of the accepted forms of photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.
If you want to vote on 4th May and you don’t have any of the accepted forms of ID, you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on 25th April or you will be unable to vote.
See https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
On Tuesday 25th April 2023 between 10am and 3pm, CRT work boats will be collecting rubbish between Bath and Bradford on Avon. If you have any bulky items such as mattresses, barrels of oil, waste from boat fit-outs etc, just give them a shout as they pass. They will also be doing some litter picking as they go, and boaters are welcome to do their own litter picking and dispose of it as the work boat passes.
