Winter fuel payment charity 'hoping' to still support people

An annual mission to help pensioners stay warm this winter has been launched amid fears people "will struggle more than ever".

The Surviving Winter appeal, run by the Somerset Community Foundation (SCF), supported 759 pensioners in 2023.

Starting in 2010, people are urged to donate their unwanted Winter Fuel Payment. Despite less people receiving the government grant this year, the charity is still hopeful it will raise enough money.

Kelly Hall, philanthropy director at SCF, said the appeal sees locals helping "others in hardship at a vulnerable time".

Since the Somerset appeal first launched, more than £1.5m has been donated. But this year, organisers have already seen a drop in donors .

Bosses are now looking into other ways to raise funds. The charity estimates at least 10,000 pensioners in the county are currently living in fuel poverty, which means they are likely to avoid turning on their heating or they miss meals to pay for heating bills.

Frank, who received a grant in 2023, said: "Last winter I experienced extreme financial hardship.

"I had run out of oil in our tank and was unable to heat our water and central heating."

He added that with help from the charity, he could buy heating oil and "get through the winter".

"I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support in these difficult times. We will be forever grateful for your help," he said.

Ms Hall added that the charity feared "many pensioners on low incomes will struggle more than ever" this year, as millions of people across the country have lost their fuel payments .

Despite this, the charity is "hopeful" it will raise enough money.

"Many people have told us how much it means to them to be able to support those living in their community – people who may even be a neighbour," she added.