Surviving Winter Appeal: Help Cambridgeshire households facing fuel poverty to have a warm home this Christmas

Our Surviving Winter Appeal, run with Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, has reached the quarter-way mark.

And the foundation has urgently appealed for others to join in with donations as it is witnessing very high demand for support with energy bills ahead of Christmas.

The Cambridge Independent has teamed up with the foundation to raise £20,000 to help those struggling to make ends meet amid high energy prices and the cost of living crisis this winter. So far, we’ve raised nearly £5,000 to help those who might otherwise spend the festive period in a cold home.

People can donate by visiting justgiving.com/campaign/survivingwinter2023.

We are particularly appealing to people over the age of 66 who are receiving a non-means-tested winter fuel payment, but do not need it, and urging them to consider donating the equivalent or part equivalent to our 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.

Paul Ray, from Cambridge Aid, one of the appeal’s partner charities, said: “Currently, due to the energy costs and the cost of living crisis, we are helping 25 per cent more people in 2023 than in 2022.

“The pressure of higher inflation means that this winter will place further strains on the finances of those we traditionally help and draw in more people who will need help.”

Individuals typically supported by the Surviving Winter Appeal often suffer from ill health and some are fleeing difficult life circumstances, like domestic abuse.

However, fuel poverty can affect anyone, and the Surviving Winter Appeal is there for those finding themselves in a difficult situation.

People who need help to stay warm and afford energy this winter can seek support from the Surviving Winter Appeal’s charity partners, who will be distributing the raised funds by making direct payments relating to energy costs.

The partner organisations supporting our appeal with Cambridgeshire Community Foundation include Cambridge Aid, CHS Group, Cambridge City Foodbank, Citizens Advice Cambridge & District, Citizens Advice Rural Cambs and Citizens Advice Peterborough.