A £42,000 fund to help vulnerable people keep warm this winter has been approved in Hampshire.
Tackling winter fuel poverty will be among the areas to benefit from funding for rural communities, said Hampshire County Council.
Council leader Roy Perry approved the funding, which is among £88,000 earmarked from the council’s Rural Delivery Strategy for five projects.
"This funding is of vital importance to ensure that residents who don’t have central heating will have the opportunity to install it, particularly those living in rural areas," he said.
"The cold can kill, and being able to keep warm is vital for everyone, but particularly for older people, the very young and those with long term medical conditions.
Hampshire’s rural affairs champion Edward Heron said: "Much of Hampshire is rural, and I’m proud to support vital projects such as these, that tackle winter fuel poverty.”
The local authority’s £42,000 Hitting the Cold Spots project provides assistance with heating bills, system repairs or replacements.
The project has been running for five years, with around 30% of people who have benefitted from the scheme, so far, living in rural areas
For information about the Hitting the Cold Spots scheme, visit the website www3.hants.gov.uk/cold-spots