Devon Charities launch Surviving Winter Appeal

As forecasters predict a freezing cold winter ahead two Devon charities have linked together to help those most in need.

Hundreds of people across the county are faced with hardship and unable to heat their own homes – but the charities are offering a lifeline and they need support from local people.

The Surviving Winter Appeal, which has been launched by Devon Community Foundation in partnership with Devon Citizens Advice Bureau, aims to match vulnerable and older people in need with those who can help.

Organisers of the scheme are appealing to people who do not need some, or all, of their winter fuel payment to donate it and it will go to help a person in need in Devon.

Latest figures reveal that more than 3,000 people died in the south west last winter because of the cold – an increase of 27 per cent. The Office for National Statistics which produced the figures said the rise in deaths was related to last year’s long, cold winter.

Steve Barriball, of CAB Devon, said: "This is a very real problem for many people in the county. Our advisers tell us how distressing it is to see clients who are faced with the choice between heating their homes or feeding themselves and their families.

"We are appealing to people who perhaps are managing well without their winter fuel payment to donate it and we will ensure it goes to help people who are truly in need in our county."

Since 2011, the National Surviving Winter Appeal has helped more than 40,000 older people survive the colder months and raised £3.3 million. Donations to the Surviving Winter Appeal help to support those most in need of help, making sure they can afford to stay warm, eat well, remain mobile, as well as helping them in practical ways such as ensuring the can make doctor's appointments, get to the shops and maintain an active social life and stay healthy throughout the winter.

Funds are distributed to local Citizens Advice Bureaux to reach hundreds of people in desperate need of help. The money is used to help people directly with their fuel bills, or to make sure essential services like lunch cubs, meals on wheels and community transport, can go the extra mile in the coldest weather.

Martha Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Devon Community Foundation said: "With nearly 20 per cent of households in Devon living in fuel poverty, around half of which include somebody over the age of 60, winter is a dangerous time for some of our older and vulnerable neighbours. Fuel poverty causes serious health problems including heart attacks, strokes and pneumonia and there is a 20 per cent increase in winter related mortality in Devon each year with around 600 older people at risk of dying.

"Many are faced with the stark choice each week: fuel or food? And are taking terrible risks with their health as a result."

She added: "In Devon alone, for every additional winter death, there are an estimated eight admissions to hospital, 32 attendances at outpatient care and 30 social service calls. That's 4,800 hospital admissions, 19,200 outpatients and 18,000 social service calls in Devon each year. Last winter, many people suffering fuel poverty remained confined to one room in an attempt to keep themselves warm.

"Beyond the hospital admissions and social service visits it is known that relieving cold and debt (for example, from energy bills) could reduce depression by half and visits to general practitioners by a quarter."