Storrington NeighbourhoodWardens News

Season greetings & keeping warm this winter

Season greetings from the Wardens. We hope that everyone is well and looking forward to the celebrations. In this winter of uncertainty, here is some advice on how to keep warm. Keeping warm indoors: • If you are sitting down, wrap up in a shawl or blanket or wear extra layers of clothes. Pop your feet up on something, if possible, as the air’s cooler at ground level. • If you struggle to stay warm in bed, try wearing warm clothes and, if it’s particularly cold, thermal underwear and bed socks. • Use a hot water bottle or electric blanket to warm your bed – but never use them at the same time. • Check if your electric blanket can be kept on all night or whether it’s only designed to warm the bed before you get in. If you have any continence difficulties, talk to your doctor before using one. • You should get your electric blanket checked every 3 years by a trusted electrician. Keeping warm when you are out and about: • Make sure you keep your face, hands and feet warm. If they get cold this can cause a rise in blood pressure. • As well as wearing gloves and a hat, pull a scarf up around your nose and mouth when you go out in the cold weather. This helps to warm the air you breathe in. • Choose shoes or boots with non-slip soles and warm linings or wear thermal socks. • Several thin layers of clothes will keep you warmer than one thick layer, as the layers trap warm air between them. If you live next door to an elderly resident, please pop in and ask if they are ok. If you have any concerns for a neighbour or friend, give us a call and we can direct them to the services that can help. Thanks for all your support throughout the year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Chris: 07795 046743 / Alison 07789 943201 storrington-sullingtonwardens@horsham.gov.uk

By Will Writer Emma Wells MIPW

It’s the run up to Christmas and most of you will hopefully be full of the festive spirit and let’s be honest, writing your Will is probably the last thing on your mind at the moment and I’m certainly not suggesting that they make great Christmas presents either, although it may be one step better than a last minute panic buy at the local service station.

One question we get asked a lot is “What happens if I don’t have a Will”? In short, you place yourself in a position of having no say in what happens to your estate and leave your family open to the process of intestacy. There is no legal requirement to have a Will and surprisingly just over 50% of the adult population in the UK don’t currently have any provision in place. Depending on your circumstances, you may feel there is little reason to spend a few hundred pounds in getting something drawn up and under the current economic situation, many of you may choose to use that money on heating your homes rather than writing out your legacy. It’s all about choice, what you feel is important and whether or not you are happy to let others make those decisions for you once you have gone. There are numerous things to consider when it comes to assets, pensions, savings and belongings too. Dying intestate means that someone else has to pick up the pieces, whether that’s a partner, your children or a close friend. If you haven’t expressed your wishes or how you would like your estate to be divided it up, it falls on those left, to make those decisions for you. Ultimately there are many benefits to producing a Will and very few negatives. Merry Christmas! Please do get in touch on 01903 821010 or email wills@nsure.co.uk

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