Fuel Poverty Awareness Day: campaign to raise funds for residents struggling with rising fuel bills
Soaring fuel bills and cuts to benefits are set to cause misery this winter. To meet the
problem head on, two local groups have joined forces to raise vital funds to support
households unable to heat their homes.
Government figures show that almost 70,000 households in the boroughs of Lewisham,
Greenwich, Bromley and Bexley suffer from fuel poverty. In the worst affected boroughs of
Lewisham and Greenwich almost 20% of households can’t afford to adequately heat their
homes.
Local community groups, Lewisham Local and South East London Community Energy (Selce)
re-launched their joint fundraiser on the annual Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, this year held
on 3rd December. Nationally, over four million UK households cannot afford to pay for the
energy they need to stay warm and healthy. Low income households living in draughty
homes are worst hit.
Selce’s CEO, Dr Giovanna Speciale said: ‘The recent double-whammy of gas and electricity
price rises and decrease in benefits are placing intolerable stress on household budgets.’
She added: ‘Many families face an impossible choice between debt and the misery of a cold
home. It is no exaggeration to say that cold homes shorten lives and blight the lives of the
very young. Health impacts will place a huge strain on our already stretched health services.’
Selce’s team of expert energy advisors offer free advice on how to pay less for gas and
electricity, dealing with energy debt and improving home energy efficiency. This winter, the
Warmer Together Lewisham initiative hopes to raise a total of £7,500. The money will be
used to train local champions and community groups to support the most vulnerable
households in their communities. Rewards such as ‘keep-warm cups’ and hand-knitted hot
water bottle covers will be offered in return for a pledge.
MP for Lewisham East Janet Daby said, ‘FuelPoverty is like any other type of poverty – it is
cruel, life-changing and it is totally avoidable. It is wonderful that Lewisham Local are
fundraising for this…’
Donations can be made via Lewisham Local’s website & the Crowdfunding platform or by cheque payable to ‘Rushey Green Time Bank’. Please mark the back ‘Lewisham Local/ Lewisham Warmer Together’ and send
to: Lewisham Local, Unit C, PLACE/Ladywell, 261 Lewisham High St, SE13 6NJ.