More people than ever before have been helped to stay warm this winter thanks to more than £90,000 worth of winter fuel payments donated to this year’s Surviving Winter campaign.

https://infogr.am/surviving_winter_201516_suffolk

Run by the Suffolk Community Foundation with Age UK Suffolk, Surviving Winter enables people to donate their Winter Fuel Payment, automatically given to everyone aged over 62, to help other people in need across the county.

So far, 335 people have received payments. Among them is west Ipswich resident Paul Johnson, 67, who said: “My parents passed away six years ago, and I have lived here alone since then.

“I had operations in 2009 and 2010 on each of my knees, but am still not able to move around very well and have constant pain… I am usually in bed by 5pm, I don’t go out in the evenings.

“Receiving help for my winter heating bills again this year is wonderful. It means I can keep the heating on at a constant temperature, rather than having to keep turning it off.”

Mr Johnson is one of 75 people in the Ipswich area to have benefitted from the extra support this year.

A total of £90,250 has so far been donated to the campaign by residents across Suffolk, but the foundation is urging people to keep donating to help them reach the £100,000 target, with more people still coming forward for support.

Hannah Bloom, of Age UK Suffolk, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to award more Surviving Winter grants this year compared to the same time period last year.

“We have received such tremendous support from the county. We are urging anyone born before March 5, 1953, with less than £16,000 in savings and struggling to pay their heating bills to contact us.

“If you are suffering from ill health, in receipt of attendance allowance, disability living allowance or pension credit or living in a hard-to-heat home, we can probably help you.”

Tim Holder, development director at Suffolk Community Foundation, said: “It is wonderful that Surviving Winter appeal donations are helping more older people than ever before to stay warm this winter.

“Having already broken all previous campaign records we are fast approaching our £100,000 target, which is fantastic.

“Winter has not finished yet, though. If you have not needed your winter fuel payment and would like to donate it to others across Suffolk who are in need of extra help, please keep those donations coming.”

Winter fuel payments are received by people over the age of 62 in November and December each year, with payments ranging from £100 to £300.

To donate to the Surviving Winter campaign, visit www.suffolkcf.org.uk, call 01473 602602, visit your local branch of Ipswich Building Society or fill in the form published on this page.

For information about receiving help, call Age UK Suffolk on 01473 359911.