Cambridgeshire Community Foundation has launched this year’s Surviving Winter Appeal to raise £20,000 to support local households facing fuel poverty. The Foundation appeals to those who are in a position to help, to please donate to support those who will struggle to stay warm this winter: justgiving.com/campaign/survivingwinter2023

The Foundation is particularly appealing to people over the age of 66 who are receiving a non-means-tested Winter Fuel Payment, but do not need it, to consider donating the equivalent or part equivalent to the Surviving Winter Appeal.

The Foundation will then work with partnering charities across the county to distribute the raised funds, by making direct payments towards energy costs, like topping up prepayment meters, financing upcoming gas and electricity costs or paying for heating oil deliveries

Support is needed more than ever, as the cost-of-living crisis continues, and many energy support schemes offered last winter will no longer be offered this year. Therefore, prices will be equally, if not more, challenging than last year. National Energy Action suggests that about one third of households believe that they will struggle to heat their homes this winter.

Sue Reynolds, Community Investment Service Manager at CHS Group, which is one of the appeal’s charity partners, commented:

“We expect the situation to be even worse this year, as the cost-of-living crisis continues, food and energy costs remain high and even those who had previously been ‘just about managing’ are now really struggling to pay energy bills or to top up their prepayment meters.”

“We are hugely grateful to the Surviving Winter Appeal for providing extra resources to enable us to help some of our most vulnerable clients.”

To support the appeal, please visit: justgiving.com/campaign/survivingwinter2023