Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland are issuing an appeal for people to give what they can to enable them to provide vital services to older people in need this winter.

Winter can be a tough time. Miserable weather, dark nights, post-Christmas blues, feeling the pinch…it’s no wonder lots of us struggle. But as we get older, those long winter months can feel much harder. Cold temperatures can seriously affect our health. Difficulty getting out and about can leave us feeling lonely and isolated. Plus. soaring energy bills and the ongoing cost of living crisis can make surviving on a limited income almost impossible.

1 in 3 (36%) people aged 65+ in Great Britain described their financial situation as being worse than a year ago. Local charity, Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland have launched an urgent appeal to the local community and organisations to give what they can to enable them to continue providing vital services to older people in need this winter.

Donations to the ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign supports Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland in providing befriending calls and visits, gifting a hot meal voucher*, emergency food parcel, home energy efficiency tips and advice along with help to claim many benefits that local people are unaware that they are entitled to.

Tony Donovan, Executive Director at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland said:

“We are receiving more and more calls from older people really concerned about how they are going to keep their homes warm this winter and pay their bills."

"If older people become fearful of the cost of heating their homes, this is going have a catastrophic effect not only on their physical health, but their mental health as well. We want to keep local older people safe and warm at home, reducing the possibility of illnesses resulting in hospital admissions.”

You can help us spread the warmth to older people who need it most. Let’s beat this winter together. Donating:

1. £5.00 helps to provide a befriending call, providing companionship and connection for older lonely and isolated people.

2. £10.00 helps to provide a hot meal voucher* offering a friendly, warm and safe place to eat a nutritious meal.

3. £20.00 helps towards a trained adviser supporting vulnerable people via our Information and Advice helpline.

4. £25.00 helps towards an emergency food parcel.

Many thousands of older people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland receive a winter fuel payment of between £250 and £600. For some, the payment is critical to keeping warm and well through winter but, for many, this benefit is less essential to their winter wellbeing.

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is encouraging anyone who does not need their winter fuel allowance to donate it to make winter warmer, safer and manageable for the very many older people already struggling to get by this year.

To donate to the Spread the Warmth appeal now, please visit here.