Donations for elderly and vulnerable to keep warm this winter

The third annual Surviving Winter Appeal, organised by the Dorset Community Foundation, asks residents to show their support by pledging a small amount of money for those in need.

Money received is distributed in the form of grants of up to £200 available through Citizens Advice Bureaus to people aged 65 and over who are struggling to pay their heating bills.

The Foundation is also working with Age UK Bournemouth and Dorchester to hand out warmer packs to elderly lunch club members, which contain winter essentials such as a fleece blanket, hand warmers, gloves, soup and a flask.

Tracy Melling, Appeal Manager, said: “It is great to see how quickly the donations from the generous public are turned into vital help.

“We are appealing for more donations from people who receive, but do not need, their Winter Fuel Allowance and the general public who wants to help an elderly person in need.

“We hope to help as many people as possible during the cold snap.”

Potential grant recipients will need to meet certain criteria and will have to contact their local Citizens Advice Bureaus themselves.

Caroline Buxton, Citizen Advice Bureaus Manager, said: “The Surviving Winter Appeal has made a real different to so many vulnerable elderly clients in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole.

“It’s all summed up in a comment from someone last year that the fuel grant made the difference between eating and heating.”

The Appeal was originally set up four years ago by the Dorset Community Foundation when statistics revealed that there are on average 500 winter related deaths amongst the elderly in Dorset.

To make a donation to the Surviving Winter Campaign via text message, send Warm15 £5 to 70070 to donate £5 or go online to Localgiving.com/charity/dorsetcommunityfoundation

Alternatively, cheques can be made payable to: Surviving Winter, Dorset Community Foundation, 24 St Peters Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2LN.