GiftAid Form I would like to donate to Devon Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter Appeal and enclose a cheque made payable to Devon Community Foundation. By Gift aiding your donation you will add 25% to the value of your donation. I will gift aid my donation to the Surviving Winter Appeal To qualify for gift aid what you pay in income tax or capital gains tax during the year must be at least equal to the amount we claim. To claim it we need your details below*: Name:
“I fully support the “Surviving Winter Appeal” to assist the elderly and the vulnerable to keep warm and healthy during our cold winters. If you are in a position to do so please help by donating all or part of your winter fuel payment to this very worthwhile cause”. Sir Michael Parkinson
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Please return this form with your donation to Laura Hewitt, Surviving Winter Appeal, Devon Community Foundation The Factory, Leat Street, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 5LL Or visit www.justgiving.com/Surviving-Winter to donate online
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Visit www.justgiving.com/Surviving-Winter or send a cheque to the address shown below, but don’t forget to use this GiftAid form to make the most of your donation.
“Staying warm and healthy in our cold winters is something most of us take for granted. However, when the idea of those more fortunate “handing on” their winter fuel payments to local, vulnerable people was presented, I wanted to pledge my payment to the “Surviving Winter Appeal”. It would be great to think that all those people who are in a position to forego part or all of their own winter fuel payment could join this great scheme and spread a little warmth”. Sir David Jason
*This information is for Devon Community Foundation’s records and in order to claim gift aid and will not be shared with any other organisations. We expect the cost to be covered from the total Gift Aid claimed and for the full value of donors’ gifts to be spent directly on grant-making.
“This is an excellent way for local people to help some of the most vulnerable older people in their area. I’ll certainly pass my payment on, and encourage everybody who can, to contribute towards it.” Sir Terry Wogan
600 older people in Devon are at risk of dying as a result of fuel poverty this winter. And that is not all, for every additional winter death, there are an estimated eight admissions to hospital, 32 attendances at outpatient care and 30 social service calls. That’s 4,800 hospital admissions, 19,200
outpatients and 18,000 social service calls in Devon each year placing a huge strain on our already burdened hospitals and medical centres. With government cuts to the fuel allowance these figures may well increase. The Winter Fuel Payment has been cut from £250 to £200 for households with at least one person over 60 and from £400 to £300 for those with a person over 80. These represent substantial cuts to our communities eldest and most vulnerable residents and would
be easier to digest if fuel prices were decreasing. But as we are all aware fuel prices haven’t decreased: they have soared. This year the average dual fuel energy bill will top £1,300, according to last month’s Ofgem report. For a pensioner, receiving the basic state pension of £102.15 per week (£5,211.80 annually) being able to afford to heat your home adequately is a difficult proposition with or without the Winter Fuel Payment.
Devon Community Foundation, The Factory, Leat Street, Tiverton EX16 5LL
Call: 01884 235887 Visit: www.devoncf.com A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, Company No: 3236918
We need your donation NOW to make sure that hundreds of vulnerable people make it through the winter.
Charity no: 1057923
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“Your donations will make all the difference to thousands of vulnerable and elderly people in Devon. I do hope that you will join me to support the Surviving Winter Appeal this year.”
Surviving Winter
More must be done to support those in need due to fuel poverty; beyond the hospital admissions and social service visits it is known that relieving cold and debt (for example, from energy bills) could reduce depression by half and visits to general practitioners by a quarter.
Last winter, many people suffering fuel poverty remained confined to one room in an attempt to keep themselves warm. Retired widower David said, “If it gets far too cold, I go to bed. Last winter I spent more time in bed than I did downstairs.” Community Foundations across the country are co-ordinating Surviving Winter: an appeal devised to tackle some of these issues. The Community Foundation’s network of relationships with charity and community leaders across the county is well placed to identify winter need and to target the money raised with speed and efficiency.
Ann Widdecombe
Sarah said, “The flat was very cold because this couple, both in their late 70’s, are not putting the heating on. They are relying on large levels of clothing to keep warm and existing health problems, such as arthritis, are being exacerbated by the cold.”
Launched on 10th November, in the Houses of Commons, the appeal already has many supporters, who have pledged to pass on their own Winter Fuel Payments to support those in need. Of course, you don’t have to be in receipt of a Winter Fuel Payment in order to donate to the appeal: we are asking all those who can afford it to help in some way.
“I will be the first to donate my Winter Fuel Payment to the Surviving Winter Appeal. This small gesture is such an easy and obvious way to support local people in real need and I hope others will follow suit.”
Jonathan Dimbleby
What is particularly great about this appeal is that all funds raised are distributed locally. So if you live in Devon, and donate through Devon Community Foundation, your money will help another Devon resident. Appeal supporter and Devon resident Ann Widdecombe was the first to donate her Winter Fuel Payment to the Surviving Winter Appeal. Ann’s support is gratefully received: her contribution will help local people in real need, but we need more of you to follow in her footsteps and support the appeal to ensure that we do our utmost to protect the older and vulnerable people in our communities this winter.
For many households the Winter Fuel Payment is a welcome boost to household income, but we know in many cases it simply is not enough on its own. With a national target of £1 million across the UK, funds raised will make sure older people can afford to stay warm, eat well and remain mobile, as well as help them in practical ways such as ensuring they can make doctor’s appointments, get to the shops, and maintain an active social life. Community Foundations are channelling the funds raised through local organisations, who will identify people who need extra support this winter. We will also be supporting groups providing an essential lifeline to older or vulnerable people in our communities.
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The effect of increasing fuel prices is that now one in every five households in the South West are fuel poor. (That means that they have to spend more than 10% of their total household income on fuel.) The number of homes described as living in fuel poverty has rocketed in the last few years. It is estimated that there are over 84,000 households in fuel poverty in Devon. The choice facing many of these people each day is stark: heat their homes or eat.
“I love this campaign ... it just makes sense.” Judi Spiers
In a recent home visit to a Devon couple, Sarah Ready, an advisor with Torbay Citizen’s Advice Bureau, interviewed a retired engineering industry worker and his wife, a former school teacher. She found that the couple is under severe financial strain resulting in fuel poverty.
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Indoor temperature and health
Above 18˚C
No adverse health effects
Below 16˚C
Money donated towards the Surviving Winter Appeal will help to support older people like these. They are a prime example of Devon’s residents who need the support of the Surviving Winter appeal, but unfortunately they are far from unusual. We can’t emphasis enough what a difference your support could make to your community this winter.
“I fully sympathize with anyone suffering from the cold. The Surviving Winter appeal is a great opportunity to help alleviate hardship during the winter.” Ranulph Fiennes
‘We don’t want to spend much needed cash on promoting this appeal and so word of mouth is vital. If all you can do is tell others, please do, it’s a massive help – Thank you.’
Sarah went on to say, “It wasn’t only fuel that was putting a strain on their budget. Although they had always been a very frugal couple, who had always previously made ends meet, they were now £3,000 in debt. The debt had arisen in fuel, water and food bills despite the limited heating they allowed themselves and the steps they had taken to reduce spending on food items, for example by purchasing almost out of date foods and dented tins.”
So if you’re asking yourself what can I do this Christmas to help people in real need, and you don’t need your Winter Fuel Payment or can help in any other way, then look no further and donate now to Devon Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter Appeal. It’s easy, obvious and effective so let’s help build a better future together.
Risk of respiratory infections
Below 12˚C
Increased blood pressure
Below 9˚C
Deep body temperature falls
Ideal room temperatures Living room Bathroom Hall/Stairs Kitchen Bedroom
21˚C 22˚C 16˚C 18˚C 18˚C
(World Health Organisation statistics)
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