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Surviving Winter Appeal: helping local people stay warm this festive season
According to National Energy Action (NEA), the average annual fuel bill is £1,720 - almost £500 more than in 2021.
Across Cambridgeshire, 32,190 households are estimated to be living in fuel poverty, according to a recent NEA report.
As energy costs and household bills continue to particularly put pressure on members of our community in situations that increase vulnerability, our Surviving Winter Appeal is providing vital help to those struggling to heat their homes during the coldest months of the year.
A local resident has shared the profound difference the Foundation’s support has made. Her story illustrates the daily reality facing many people this winter – and the life-changing impact that our grants can have:
“I was in tears of relief when I received the email this morning with the wonderful news that I have been accepted for a grant. I can’t even begin to tell you what a difference this will make to me.
For the last several years, due to numerous physical and mental health issues, and the effect they have had on my capacity to earn a decent living, I have been unable to properly heat my home and have simultaneously fallen into debt.
I will now have one less thing I need to constantly worry about. Thanks to your kindness and generosity, I’m looking forward to sharing a warm and cosy Christmas with my family, and I can’t thank you enough for helping me make that a reality.”
She adds that she hopes her story inspires people to donate to the appeal, so that “no one has to worry about keeping themselves or their families warm again.”
Sadly, her experience is far from unique. Many older people, carers, lower-income households, families, and individuals living with long-term health conditions are facing the impossible choice between heating their home and eating a hot meal.
Donations to the Surviving Winter Appeal help to provide grants for people struggling to afford energy bills, but the effect of that grant is felt much more widely. The supports helps to prevent dangerous cold-related health conditions and energy debt, as well as offering warmth, dignity, and peace of mind during the winter months.
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Every winter, we witness the extraordinary difference that even a relatively small grant can make. For someone living in a cold home, weighed down by worry and debt, this support doesn’t just bring warmth; it also brings dignity and hope. The Surviving Winter Appeal is powered by local generosity, and every donation helps us reach another neighbour in need and give more people the chance of a warm, safe Christmas.
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Michael O’Toole CEO, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
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