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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.

Winter Warmth Fund (Individuals)

The Winter Warmth Fund provides grants to help older people in Cumbria stay warm and healthy during winter months. The fund is designed to assist individuals aged 60 or over who reside in Cumbria and receive a state pension and/or pension credit, or who struggle to maintain a basic acceptable standard of living during the winter due to the cost of heating their home. The program is funded by voluntary donations of winter fuel allowance payments, individual and local business donations, and community fundraising. Priority is given to those aged 80 and over, individuals with comorbidity or chronic underlying health conditions (particularly respiratory or coronary), those who live in hard-to-heat homes such as solid-walled properties or properties with poor insulation, and those dependent on heating oil, solid fuel, or without central heating. Additional priority is given to those who use electrical medical equipment, have savings of less than £10,000, and who have not previously received a grant. Applicants must apply through designated partner organizations including Age UK South Cumbria, Age UK North Cumbria, or Copeland Age & Advice Service. These organizations also provide free benefit checks and advice on tariff switching, energy efficiency measures, and other support services. The normal grant amount is £250, with £350 available in exceptional circumstances.