SOMERSET Community Foundation (SCF) has launched this year’s Surviving Winter appeal, encouraging people who can afford it to donate some or all of their Winter Fuel Payment to help vulnerable older people unable to afford to heat their homes.

The cost-of-living crisis means this winter will be one of the toughest for decades.

Many older people are anxious about rising bills and around 11,000 Somerset pensioners will be living in fuel poverty this year, double last year's total.

The SCF team know many of the poorest pensioners may not turn their heating on at all, or will cut back on food to save money as they are forced to choose between heating and eating.

And with everyday costs such as food and fuel rapidly increasing, this winter will see many vulnerable older neighbours struggling to cope. Many will stay at home to save money and find themselves cut off from family and friends.

Around 800 older people in Somerset are supported through SCF’s Surviving Winter appeal every year with a cash grant towards their energy bills. This year, the Surviving Winter grants are increasing from £300 to £500, and there will be even more help for people to buy essential items to stay warm and help make their homes more energy efficient.

For many local people who don’t need their Winter Fuel Payment, donating it to the Surviving Winter appeal is an easy way to make a huge difference to the life of one of their neighbours.

SCF chief executive Justin Sargent said: “We estimate that at least 5,500 low-income pensioners in Somerset will not have enough money to afford to heat their homes sufficiently this winter.

"Cold weather causes hundreds of preventable deaths every year, with older people and those living in older or isolated rural homes most likely to experience the largest degree of fuel poverty.

“Thanks to the bright idea of one generous pensioner, who asked us many years ago if we could get his Winter Fuel Payment to someone who needed it, we can make sure that hundreds of older people in Somerset are being supported to stay warm, safe and well every winter through our Surviving Winter campaign."

Glastonbury Festival organiser and long-time Surviving Winter donor Michael Eavis is supporting the initiative for another year.

If you can donate to Surviving Winter, visit www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter, call 01749 344949, or download a donation form from the Somerset Community Foundation website.