Surviving Winter campaign hailed a success

21 March 2019

Somerset Community Foundation’s (SCF) 2018/19 Surviving Winter campaign has been a phenomenal success and is well on its way to reaching this winter’s target of helping over 500 vulnerable older people in Somerset.

Since Surviving Winter first launched in 2010, the appeal has raised £700,000 for Somerset pensioners, helping thousands of older people afford to heat their homes.

The campaign encourages people to donate the equivalent of his Winter Fuel Payment to help others in greater need.

Thanks to the generosity of donors this winter, the Somerset campaign has already helped over 350 people across the county. More grants will continue to be issued well into the chilly springtime.

Barbara Moore is 72 and lives in Kingsbury Episcopi. She recently received a Surviving Winter grant for £150: “My husband Eric is currently in hospital, having undergone back surgery.

“This cash boost will help keep us warm for the rest of the winter, and I can’t wait for him to come back to our lovely warm bungalow.”

Her grant was delivered by one of Somerset Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter delivery partners, LiveWest.

Barbara added: “We are so grateful for this grant and can’t thank LiveWest enough for guiding us through the application process.

“It has encouraged us to put the heating on more and keep ourselves warm. In the past we would not have the heating on so high or as often and we would sometimes feel cold.”

For information about applying for a Surviving Winter grant, contact either the Community Council for Somerset on 01823 331222 or Age UK Somerset on 01823 345610 or visit: www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter

If you run a local community project and would like to find out more about grant funding, please call Somerset Community Foundation on 01749 344949 or visit: www.somersetcf.org.uk.