Residents are to be offered advice on coping with the challenges of winter through a series of money and wellbeing roadshows.

Organised by West Northamptonshire Council, the events will bring together organisations to provide practical help, from home energy efficiency to debt advice – and mental health support.

The events are part of the authority’s wider money and wellbeing support programme, giving residents the opportunity to get tailored advice in a welcoming and inclusive space.

Laura Couse, Reform UK councillor and cabinet member for adult care and public health, said: “It is important that you know that you do not have to face these struggles alone.”

Run in partnerships with libraries, community centres and charities, the events aim to offer free advice and support to help people stay well and manage their finances during the colder months.

The roadshows will be held in Kingsthorpe in Northampton, Daventry, Towcester and Northampton between 20 November and 20 February 2026.

Each will have a different focus, including older people and home energy support, advice for families, and supporting families with pre-school children.

Couse acknowledged winter could be a “difficult time” for people.

“As the days get colder and darker, the pressures of everyday life, especially rising energy costs and worries about money or health, can feel overwhelming, but there is help available,” she said.

“These roadshows are not just about advice but also providing connection within our communities.

“Whether you’re worried about heating your home, managing your finances, or just need someone to talk to, these events are here for you.”

India’s consumption landscape is gearing up for a major shift over the coming decade, with the country’s retail market expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030. A new report by venture capital firm Fireside Ventures says this surge will be fuelled by rising disposable incomes, faster digital adoption and the growth of a large aspirational consumer class.Fireside argues that the change is not just in size but in the very structure of how Indians shop. The firm notes that retail channels are seeing their “most dramatic reconfiguration yet.” According to the report, general trade—which made up over 90 per cent of retail in 2014—is projected to drop to around 70 per cent by 2030, reported news agency ANI. At the same time, modern trade, e-commerce, quick commerce and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are expected to accelerate sharply. D2C and quick commerce alone may account for up to 5 per cent of the total market within the decade.With shoppers increasingly embracing digital-first formats, branded retail is forecast to double and reach nearly $730 billion, which would represent almost half of all retail spending. Fireside highlights that new-age, digital-native brands are currently scaling two to three times faster than conventional companies, helped by agile distribution, data-driven product development and more personalised customer engagement.The analysis outlines several emerging consumer segments. The firm notes, “Map your audiences, and you’ll see the opportunity take the shape of many substantial markets, whether India I, the 15 per cent population driving 35 per cent of retail and 60 per cent of branded purchases; or Bharat, the larger, fast-digitising 85 per cent, hungry for new brands and experiences,” as per ANI.By 2030, India is expected to have 1.1 billion internet users and over 400 million online shoppers. Fireside describes this as the “flattest consumption opportunity” India has ever witnessed.The firm concludes that India’s next hundred iconic consumer brands will be built by founders who blend cultural insight with digital fluency—creating niche, rooted and experimental labels that resonate with a confident, modern and increasingly regional Indian shopper.