A huge thank you to our members for donating to this year’s Surviving Winter Appeal. On the 5th of April, we presented one of our eco-friendly reusable cheques to Suffolk Community Foundation for £1,570 at our Mutual House branch in Ipswich.
These continued donations are crucial to keep those warm in their homes by paying directly into their winter fuel bill, which they couldn’t afford to cover without the generosity of the local community.
What is the Surviving Winter Appeal?
With the cost of living continuing to soar, Suffolk’s Annual Surviving Winter Appeal has never been more vital to ensure that those in need in Suffolk receive the support they require to stay safe and keep warm in their homes during winter and beyond.
Over the past decade, Suffolk’s Surviving Winter Appeal has raised over £1.2M and heated the homes of many thousands of people in need in Suffolk. Thanks to the generosity of the people of Suffolk, last year alone £298,000 was raised and 1,500 homes heated across every corner of Suffolk.
The team at Warm Homes Healthy People have been focusing on maximising the impact of home energy surveys. Reducing the amount of energy used through enhanced home energy efficiency and increasing the take-up of available energy efficiency grants, supply of insulation, draught proofing and helping with information and advice on how to maximise the value of storage heating are all making a difference. They are also helping Suffolk towards its goals to reduce the County’s Carbon Footprint.
As a long-standing project partner, Ipswich Citizens Advice are providing additional support to beneficiaries of Surviving Winter. With increasing fuel costs taking up ever greater proportions of household budgets, support is being provided to maximise individuals’ income. This activity includes working with people to check entitlement and support applications for benefits, as well as providing advice around things such as switching utilities and insurance providers.
What we’re doing to support the ongoing campaign
As a supporter of The Suffolk Community Foundation, we will continue to support the appeal by accepting donations from members across all 9 of our branches in Suffolk.
