HELPING PEOPLE TO ‘SURVIVE WINTER’
Campaign will keep them warm and fed
A NEW campaign has been launched to help vulnerable children and elderly people eat and keep warm across North Staffordshire this winter.
The ‘surviving winter’ initiative has been set up by the Community Foundation in the county.
It comes as new Government figures estimate that 1.7 million children and six million older people either struggle to be well fed or warm when temperatures dip.
The charity Sustain believes the figure for the UK is higher at 8.4M with BAME, disabled, children and older people the most affected.
It is estimated to be much worse than normal this year due to coronavirus.
Now registered charity The Community Foundation wants to use its ability to directly support key groups across North Staffordshire this winter.
The new campaign is up and running to target the vulnerable to ensure they stay ‘warm, fed and well’ over the next few months.
Most people who fall into food poverty struggle because their income is too low or unreliable and this is compounded by an increased cost of living with many reliant on supplies from foodbanks. The Trussell Trust estimate they give out a food parcel every nine seconds during winter.
Fuel poverty is defined by a household unable to afford to heat their home to an adequate temperature.
The significant rise in the cost of gas and electricity has led to the charity End Fuel Poverty claiming 11,400 people die every winter in a cold home.
Steve Adams, chief executive of The Community Foundation said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on many families’ income and finances, meaning thousands more children than normal are facing food poverty this winter, as well as numerous elderly residents struggling to afford basic heating costs. We want to make a difference.
“Due to coronavirus, many people are facing unemployment and are unable to access crucial support services due to isolation.
“This has led to many being faced with the difficult choice of paying either for their heating or being able to afford sufficient quality meals daily.”
The Community Foundation has set up a Justgiving page. People can also text SWSTAFFS to 70085 and donate £5 (plus standard message rate). Corporate donations should email office@staffordshire. foundation.