UK Community Foundations raises more than £1m to support older people this winter

The membership body for community foundations asked people to donate winter fuel payments to help older people who are experiencing fuel poverty

The umbrella body UK Community Foundations has raised more than £1m to help support older people during the winter months.

Its Surviving Winter campaign asks people to donate their winter fuel payments or anything else they can afford to help older people who might be experiencing fuel poverty or increased isolation during the winter.

UK Community Foundations, the membership body for the 48 community foundations that work to raise and distribute money to local causes, said government figures showed that almost 31,100 people aged over 65 died in England and Wales during winter last year. It said problems were being exacerbated by fuel price rises, leaving many elderly people living in fuel poverty.

Stephen Hammersley, chief executive of UK Community Foundations, said: "This support will mean that those who are often forgotten will receive the attention that could mean the difference between life and death in 2014."

Last year’s campaign raised £1.2m and UK Community Foundations said it still hoped to beat this total.

Courtesy of Third Sector Online.