# Winter fuel allowance donation scheme launched to combat fuel poverty

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/11/15/winter-fuel-allowance-donation-scheme-launched-combat-fuel-poverty/
- Published: 2011-11-15T23:39:14+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Inspired by individuals who wanted to donate their Winter Fuel Payment from the
government to support older and vulnerable people suffering from fuel poverty, community
foundations across the UK have launched the Surviving Winter campaign to encourage
the public to make donations as well.**

The money raised will be targeted to help those locally who struggle to stay warm
and safe through the winter.

Each year around 20,000 more people aged 65 or over die in winter months than in
other months. Last winter there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths.

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Saga is supporting the Surviving Winter Appeal and has featured the campaign in 
the November edition of Saga Magazine. Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga, said:“
I am delighted to be supporting this brilliant initiative to help “recycle” winter
fuel allowances from those who don’t need them, to help pensioners who do. We feel
it is important, as part of a caring society, to enable people who want to help 
those who are at risk of fuel poverty to keep warm and well this winter.”

 

[Dorset Community Foundation’s video about the campaign is no longer available –
19 June 2018]

The national fuel poverty charity, National Energy Action (NEA) is also endorsing
the campaign. Peter Smith, External Affairs Manager at NEA, added: “As the national
fuel poverty charity, we are only too aware of the dangers of living in cold damp
homes, and with winter approaching many people will be dreading the prospect of 
cold conditions and high energy bills. Through the campaign, we hope to raise awareness
of the 6.6 million UK households that are currently estimated to be in fuel poverty,
as well as work with individual community foundations to deliver effective, tailored
solutions that will permanently remove people from fuel poverty”.

Celebrities who have already pledged to donate their Winter Fuel Payment to the 
[Community Foundation Network’s](http://www.communityfoundations.org.uk/about/survivingwinter/)
campaign include Terry Wogan, Sir Michael Parkinson and Joanna Lumley.

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