Knowsley Council’s Healthy Homes winter roadshows have supported hundreds of residents across the borough with vital advice on housing and healthy living.
Between September 2025 and February 2026, Knowsley Council’s Environmental Health Team delivered a series of Healthy Homes Winter Roadshows across community venues in Huyton, Halewood, Prescot, Stockbridge Village and Kirkby.
The roadshows – delivered in partnership with a wide range of local services and voluntary-sector organisations – were aimed at supporting residents with practical advice and access to services that promote safer, healthier living environments.
In total, six roadshow events were held, bringing together a range of council services, social landlords, Smoke Free Knowsley, Digital Inclusion teams, the Healthy Knowsley Service, Healthwatch Knowsley, Change Grow Live, Citizens Advice, Transform Lives Company, Enterprise Credit Union, Social Prescribers, Family Connectors and Winter Warmer groups.
A total of 502 residents visited the events, resulting in 53 onward referrals or follow-up actions to ensure residents received the support they needed. Sessions identified indoor air quality and housing-related health risks early, as well as offering advice on energy saving, financial support and health services.
Some of the regular support services who attend the Healthy Homes Roadshows will be available at Centre 63, Old Hall Lane, Kirkby from 10am-12pm on Thursday, 19 March during Knowsley Council’s next Environmental Action Day.
Making a difference
Coming along to the roadshows has made a difference to the lives of a number of Knowsley residents. Here are a few examples of the positive outcomes:
Keeping warm at home: A homeowner wanted to discuss some issues with her property. She explained that the downstairs of her home was extremely cold, making it difficult to stay warm throughout the day.
As a result, she often spent time in local cafés simply to keep warm, highlighting the growing pressures associated with cold homes and rising energy costs.
The resident believed she was not eligible for any energy support schemes because she was not in receipt of benefits. This misconception had prevented her from seeking help previously.
During the event, she was introduced to the council’s Energy Efficiency Officer, who provided reassurance and explained the range of schemes and support available to homeowners, including those who are not on means‑tested benefits. They discussed potential improvements and how she might access support to help make her home warmer and more energy‑efficient.
Activity for life: Staff at Volair introduced a resident to the Activity for Life GP referral scheme – a supported physical activity programme designed to help people manage long-term health conditions.
The resident’s father, who lives with arthritis, had recently begun to feel isolated and wasn’t getting around as much as he used to. She felt he could really benefit from a structured, supportive programme like this to help with his physical health, movement and activity levels, as well as offering opportunities for social connection, which could improve his overall wellbeing and mental health.
The daughter left the session with a clear understanding of the scheme, its benefits, and how her father could access it.
Making positive changes: A Kirkby resident engaged with partners and opened up about several personal challenges he had been experiencing. He spoke at length with staff from the Healthy Knowsley Service and Change Grow Live (CGL), who provided immediate support and reassurance.
Recognising that the resident required both emotional and practical help, partners worked together to coordinate a swift response:
- The resident was signposted to Southdene Community Centre, where he received a food voucher to help address an immediate need.
- He was also referred to a counselling service, who made contact with him on the same day to begin offering support for his gambling issues.
Since receiving this coordinated support, the resident has reported feeling much better and says he is now in a more positive headspace. He expressed gratitude for the help he received at the roadshow and the ongoing support from community partners.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “The Healthy Homes Winter Roadshows show the real value of meeting residents in their communities. By working together with partners, we’ve been able to identify issues early, support households during the most challenging months of the year and continue our work to improve housing conditions and health outcomes for our communities.”