23 January 2024

Surviving Winter appeal raises record-breaking amount to help older people in fuel poverty

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) is delighted to announce that their 2023/24 Surviving Winter appeal has raised an incredible, record-breaking £185,000 so far, thanks to the generosity of local donors. Surviving Winter encourages local people to make a personal gift, or donate their Winter Fuel Payment to help older people in need. Donations to the Surviving Winter appeal mean that SCF can help around 800 vulnerable older people across Somerset and make sure they have the support they need to get through the cold winter months. The Surviving Winter team at SCF, and their partners, have been distributing funding to those in need since the appeal launched in November, with hundreds of grants already awarded across the county. Since Surviving Winter first launched in Somerset in 2010, the appeal has raised almost £1.5 million in total for the county. SCF’s Philanthropy Director, Laura Blake, thanked local people for rallying behind the appeal: “We’ve been absolutely blown away by the support we’ve received for this year’s Surviving Winter appeal, particularly as around 10,000 older people in Somerset are currently living in fuel poverty – that’s almost double the number last year. “We’re hugely grateful to each and every person who has donated – and particularly those who donate year after year. With temperatures plummeting and household energy prices rising this January, your donations continue to be an absolute lifeline for hundreds of older people in the county.” If you can, donate online by visiting www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter or call 01749 344949 and select option 1 to use your credit or debit card (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm). You can also send a cheque made payable to ‘Somerset Community Foundation’ (write ‘SW’ on the back) to Somerset Community Foundation, Yeoman House, The Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN. For information on how to apply for a Surviving Winter grant, please visit: www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter