Surviving Winter campaign from Citizens Advice Wiltshire 'even more important' this year
The project has been running for 11 years
Citizens Advice Wiltshire and the Wiltshire Community Foundation have teamed-up once again, to support vulnerable people across the county.
Their £90,000 'Surviving Winter' campaign looks to help older residents, and those with additional needs, that are struggling with the cost of heating their homes.
The charities are also joining forces with Warm and Safe Wiltshire and Age UK, aiming to assist around 900 people and prevent the deaths of 400 elderly people across the county.
It's estimated by the government that more than 30,000 Wiltshire residents live in fuel poverty, meaning they cannot afford to heat their homes properly.
Citizens Advice will be using some of £90,000 to train advisors, identifying those at risk from fuel poverty and helping them claim benefits.
That includes Attendance Allowance for people over 65 and Personal Independence Payments for those under 65.
'A huge help'
Wiltshire Citizens Advice CEO Suzanne Wigmore said the partnership with Wiltshire Community Foundation means support can be ramped-up:
"It is a huge help to us ... we are able to increase the number of clients we can help.
"It has also made us more aware and brought to the forefront the conversation about heating and additional cost. It has helped us to identify people we might not have flagged up before".
During the pandemic, the charities have also seen a rise in people getting in touch with fears about their finances.
'Having heating on has become even more vital'
Suzanne has told Greatest Hits Radio:
"the campaign is even more important this year for two reasons. Firstly there are lots of people who have been furloughed or lost their jobs or had their income affected in some way.
"Also a lot of us are just in a lot more, whether we would have been at work ... or in cafes or shopping, we're just not going anywhere so having heating on, especially during the day, has become even more vital".
So far, the project has raised over £26,000.
Wiltshire Community Foundation joint Chief Executive, Fiona Oliver, added:
"The Surviving Winter Campaign is an excellent way for people to redirect their government Winter Fuel Payment if they don't need or want it and would like to help someone who would really benefit".
Donations can be made by visiting the Wiltshire Community Foundation website.