Donate your winter fuel allowance to help an older person keep warm

News from our partners Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin

A local charity supporting older people in Shropshire is asking for donations of the winter fuel payment to help those who struggle to pay their heating bills in the winter. 

Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin set up a scheme four years ago to help older people who experience difficulties paying gas or electricity bills. The scheme invites those people who can manage to pay their fuel bills without the winter fuel payment to donate it to Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin who can pass in on to local older people who really do need it to keep warm this winter.

Winter fuel payments – Age UK

 According to a survey by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Shropshire is thought to have as many as 19,135 homes classified as fuel poor, this equates to 14.6% of all households in the county. Even more alarming, the report states that in 2014/15 there were 191 excess winter deaths in Shropshire, 2.5 times the national average. 

Heather Osborne, Chief Executive Officer at Age UK STW, said:

“We have seen an increase in calls to our information and advice team from those who are struggling to pay their gas and electricity bills and faced with living in a cold home this winter. Nearly 50,000 homes are off the mains gas grid resulting in more expensive heating fuels, such as oil, LPG and electricity. The Surviving Winter Grant Fund gives another option for people wanting to donate, knowing they will be helping someone in need.” 

If you would like to donate to the local charity in a different way and feel that you can manage without your winter fuel payment, then call Age UK Shropshire Telford and Wrekin on 01743 233123. Please specify you wish to donate to the Surviving Winter Grant Fund. 

For more information about Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin go to www.ageuk.org.uk/shropshireandtelford.