Across Cambridgeshire, over 30,000 households are predicted to face fuel poverty this winter.
That’s around 1 in 10 households in our county.
Those affected by fuel poverty cope as best as they can. People cut back on other essentials, such as food, or they ration energy use by heating only one room. Many people will also take respite in other warm places.
However, with high energy costs and other living expenses, low incomes and energy-inefficient homes, these measures only go so far and should not be what anyone has to resort to.
Families with young children, people with disabilities and those managing long-term health conditions are often hardest hit. Cold homes can worsen existing health problems, impact mental wellbeing and force people to choose between heating and other essential living costs.
The consequences of living in a cold home extend far beyond discomfort. Across the UK, more than 7,000 winter deaths each year are associated with living in cold homes.
