ENERGY company giving away free electric blankets to their most vulnerable customers as the nights draw longer and colder.
Octopus Energy, a renewable energy group specialising in sustainable energy, is giving away 20,000 free electric blankets.
Since its launch back in January 2022, Octopus Energy has already distributed 60,000 free electric blankets to those who need them most.
Earlier this week, retailer John Lewis reported a 173% increase in sales of electric blankets year-on-year.
Electric blankets are an efficient and effective means for a person to heat themselves up.
You can pick up an electric blanket from Amazon for as little as £25.
But if your planning on splashing out, there are options that break the hundred pound mark.
It’s not the first time that the energy firm has given away money saving gadgets to help customers.
Anyone can apply for their own electric blanket through Octopus Energy’s £30 million Octo Assist Fund, as long as they’re a customer of the firm.
The freebie isn’t on a first come first serve basis either, but priority will be given to customers in certain circumstances, such as those that are medically vulnerable, elderly or living alone.
To see whether you’re eligible, Octopus Energy says customers can apply here.
The energy group insists that anyone who is concerned about paying their winter bills should not hesitate to get in touch.
Mario Lupori, director at Octopus Energy Group, says: “We know many people are worried about the costs of heating their homes over winter.
“An electric blanket means you heat the human, not the home – staying warm for as little as 3p an hour.
“We’ve got 20,000 more blankets this year to give out to our most vulnerable customers and we’re delighted that they will help them stay warm.”
When looking for more strings to add to your bow, the Winter Fuel Payment could be an option if you were born before September 23, 1958.
For those aged between 66 and 79 you can expect to receive £200 to help with your heating bills, while those aged 80 or over will receive £300.
While many despair at the thought of the average temperature being zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days, there is a silver lining.
In some cases, you may be eligible to receive a Cold Weather Payment. This is available to people who receive certain benefits or support for mortgage interest.
In some cases, energy suppliers are offering grants to people in debt, and you don’t always need to be a customer to apply.
British Gas injected £20 million into the British Gas Energy Trust over the summer to help struggling customers.
The Fuel Bank Foundation is a charity that offers emergency financial support and advice to people who pre-pay for fuel and have run out of credit.
ISSAC HAYDEN has been left out of Newcastle’s Premier League 25-man squad as FIVE goalkeepers are chosen instead.
The midfielder has made over 150 appearances for the Magpies but will not be allowed to play any club football.
Hayden, 29, has been at St James’ Park since 2016 and is the only senior player to not be included in the 25-man list submitted on Friday.
It was expected that the star would finalise a loan deal during the summer, but no agreement was ever officially signed.
And Hayden’s 2026 World Cup hopes may have been crushed as a result of the exclusion as he is among the British-born players that newly-appointed Jamaica manager Steve McClaren was keen to acquire.
It remains to be seen whether McClaren will opt for Hayden knowing he has been forced to the sideline until January at the earliest.
Hayden arrived at Newcastle in 2016 from Arsenal and has not made a competitive appearance for the Magpies since December 2021.
He has not featured on on any of Eddie Howe‘s squad sheets this term either.
During his spell at the club, he has spent time on loan at Championship clubs Norwich and Queens Park Rangers, as well as Belgian side Standard Liege.
Meanwhile, five shot-stoppers have been added to Howe’s squad list for the first half of the season.
Martin Dubravka, Nick Pope, Odysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie were all chosen as options for the number one role.
Howe’s side have had a strong start to the season after winning three out of their four opening games in the Premier League.
The Magpie’s most recent win was a 2-1 victory against Wolves which pushed them into the third spot of the table level on points with Arsenal and trailing two behind reigning champions Manchester City.
Their next clash will be against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.
A HEARTBROKEN dad has shared a moving tribute to his “cheeky chappy” nine-year-old son after he was found dead.
Emergency services rushed to the Fletchersbridge area of Bodmin, Cornwall, at around 10.10am on September 7.
Tasmin Paterson, aged 31, and her son Hudson Paterson, aged 9, were confirmed deceased after emergency services were called following concerns for their welfare.
Paying tribute to his son, Hudson’s father said: “The grief we feel for the loss of a son, my son, stepson, nephew, and grandson cannot be understated. Hudson was a quiet but cheeky chappy, who’s love for cars was as big as the love for his family and friends.
“Hudson was adored, loved, cherished, and everyday brought a smile to those that he loved and loved him.
“Hudson no longer being here is truly devastating for me as his dad and my family. It’s soul destroying and the grief is unimaginable.
“I thank those for the messages of love and support, we would appreciate respect and privacy for Hudson and my family during this heartbreaking time.”
Tasmin’s family paid tribute saying: “Tasmin was very much loved and will be missed by those who loved her.
“Our hearts are broken to lose a daughter and a beautiful grandson, who was the light of our lives. Life will never be the same again.”
Tasmin’s partner and his family said: “Tasmin had been a shining star who had left an overwhelming legacy of love and positivity on their lives and that they were privileged to have known her and would always continue to cherish her memory.”
Detective Inspector Neil Blanchard said: “Tasmin and Hudson’s deaths continue to be treated as unexplained and our enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what occurred.
“We are not seeking to speak to anyone in connection to their deaths and this remains an isolated and very tragic incident.
“Our thoughts remain with their families and friends, and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
FROM training your hair so it doesn’t need washing to using lemons for ‘natural’ highlights, there are endless hacks to level up your haircare routine.
So it’s easy to get swept up in these apparent fixes for your tresses.
But experts have warned that many of these hacks are myths, and can even be harmful to your hair.
Eva Proudman, who has over 20 years of experience in scalp and hair health, has revealed which haircare hacks you need to watch out for.
The expert trichologist, who works with Absolute Collagen, also offered up her own alternative tips that won’t ruin your locks.
First up, Eva rubbished claims that you can train your hair to reduce how often you need to wash it.
She said: “This myth suggests that going cold turkey on washing your hair can help to regulate the production of natural oils which make it greasy. The idea is that your hair will begin to naturally clean itself.
“However, this is a myth and can cause damage and irritation to your scalp.
“Your body will continue to produce the same natural oils it always does and not washing will lead to a build-up of dirt, and debris.”
She added: “After a while, you’ll begin to experience itching and sensitivity, not to mention dandruff as bacteria begins to build up among your hair follicles.
“To keep the scalp clean and well-balanced, we would recommend that most people to wash their hair daily or every other day.”
Another common myth that has been sweeping social media is that natural products like lemon juice can dye your hair without damaging it.
But Eva warns: “While you may start to see a slight change in your hair’s shade, this method will also most likely damage it.
“The citrus in the lemon juice is acidic and, perhaps unsurprisingly, this isn’t good for your hair.
“Combined with overexposure to the sun, your hair will become damaged at a much quicker rate, and you may even begin to experience scalp soreness as a result.”
“We often hear people suggest that if you want to grow your hair out long, regular cutting is a way to improve growth”, says Eva.
“But that’s not necessarily true. Your hair grows from the roots, so while taking off those split ends will help to make it healthier overall, it won’t have any impact in terms of increasing growth.”
The hair pro adds: “If you do want to improve hair growth, more effective methods to explore are making subtle changes to your diet to increase your protein intake, as well as taking supplements such as collagen.”
It’s a widely held, and researched, belief that using a hair dryer on wet hair is more damaging than allowing it to air dry.
But letting your hair dry naturally can actually do it more damage.
Eva reveals: “While too much direct heat onto the hair can cause breakage, blow drying on a cool setting is one of the safest ways to dry your hair.
“Alternative methods can often lead to a build-up of bacteria, as the wet and dampness of your hair is an ideal climate for it to grow.
“Our hair is also at its weakest when wet, snapping and breaking easier, so drying your hair is good practice.
“Be aware though that, to avoid burning or damage, heated tools should be no hotter than 180 degrees. Moreover, always try to apply a heat-protecting spray or serum before using heated tools.”
“One of the more dangerous myths out there is that pulling your grey hairs out can help to stop them from spreading”, insists Eva.
The expert trichologist said that not only is it painful to pluck them out, but it could cause damage to your scalp and infection.
Instead, she advises: “It’s crucial to take care of any of your greyer hairs as these are much drier and prone to breaking.
“Hair without natural colour has a thinner cuticle, which is the outer protective layer of the hair, making it more prone to damage from water, UV, humidity, chemicals and heat styling.
“Why not embrace your natural greys as they start to appear?”
NICOLE Scherzinger has had a glistening career in showbiz and is now very much living the high life.
As well as her tenure as the face of the Pussycat Dolls, she’s known for her hit solo tracks such as ‘Right There’, ‘Killer Love’ and ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’.
The superstar has appeared in huge TV formats like The Masked Singer, and has received standing ovations on both Broadway and The West End.
Nicole, 46, is preparing to undertake the role of Norma Desmond again in the second broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s Sunset Boulevard.
This was after a successful stint at The Savoy Theatre in London’s West End.
As such, she is moving away from Hollywood and has put her lavish $6.7million mansion on the market.
According to Architectural Digest, the property was first built in 1990, but has been extensively renovated since then.
She first bought it for $3.76 million and it’s now on the market for almost double the price.
For an option to rent, she’s listed the stunning property for $40,000 per month ($480K a year).
The hillside manor boasts panoramic views of the Los Angeles Skyline, guaranteed to please the former X Factor judge if she’s hosting guests like Simon Cowell.
In a video tour from four years ago, Nicole explained that the 4,602 square-foot house is split on four levels, with plenty of room for her and her fiance Thom Evans, 39.
On the main level, guests can either sit at a luxurious eight seat maple wood dining table or the kitchen bar.
The dining area features comfortable white cushioned chairs against the stunning picturesque backdrop.
Plenty of natural light floods into the room due to the floor-to-ceiling windows which back onto the wrap-around terrace area.
The room features a huge open plan kitchen with wooden cabinets and calacatta marble countertops on the waterfall-edge island.
Her stunning master bedroom is on the second floor and it also features the same ceiling height glass windows and doors.
What records has Nicole Scherzinger personally released?
Albums
Singles (As lead artist)
Custom nooks that have been built into the walls with charging outlets frame each side of her custom bed.
A modern fireplace spans the entire length of the wall of the room, adding to the warm and intimate and feel of the room.
The ensuite bathroom features two huge bathtubs, one inside and another separate basin on the outside deck.
With more calacatta marble as flooring, it also features a heated walk-in steam shower.
I feel literally like I’m on top of the world.
Nicole Scherzinger
Other features of the house include a cinema room which was specifically designed to “be like a hidden cave.”
The projector room features an array of peach crushed seven-foot deep velvet sofa beds to fully stretch out and relax.
Outside amenities include a covered area for lounging as well as a deck for sunbathing.
Accompanying the home gym is a rooftop glass sauna to help freshen up when she’s in her downtime from work.
The highlight of the house comes in the form of a six-foot deep saltwater waterfall plunge pool if she needs to cool down on the hotter days in the sun.
