Winter Warmth Fund

The Winter Warmth Fund is an annual appeal run by Cumbria Community Foundation since 2010 to help vulnerable older people in Cumbria stay warm and healthy during winter months. The fund addresses the critical issue of excess winter deaths, which can be as high as 500 older people in a bad winter in the county. Grants are provided to older people aged 60 and over who struggle to heat their homes and feed themselves properly, helping them afford heating costs during the cold winter months. Last winter, the fund raised £486,260 and made 1,227 household grants benefitting 1,570 vulnerable older people across Cumbria. The grants are distributed through delivery partners Age UK and Copeland Age & Advice Service. The fund has raised more than £3 million since its inception to support Cumbria's most vulnerable older residents.