Age UK Scarborough to open doors for people to keep warm this Winter

There are concerns about the rising cost of energy bills

Author: Karen LiuPublished 7th Sep 2022

A charity in Scarborough is calling for the new Prime Minister to take "speedy and immediate action" on energy costs.

Age UK says the rising cost of living is affecting everyone with concerns many are not able to heat their homes over the next few months.

Chief Executive of the charity's branch in Scarborough, Neil Bradbury, said: "From the new Prime Minister We're looking for pretty speedy and immediate action of the inflationary pressures and in particularly energy costs. Everyone's worried about it but in particular people over 50s and pensioners are worried about it because they need a warm house as they're often in more. We don't want anyone to have the choice between heating or eating.

"Once the temperature drops a bit, we're going to open up our office as a 'warm room' for people just to come in and stay warm if they can't afford to turn their heating on. I wish this didn't have to be the way just because we think there's going to people who are going to choose not heat their house, in order to have enough money to do other things they need to do and that's a real tragedy.

"We're going to be bringing people to help with advice in terms of their energy costs. We're getting more volunteers to help people with their finances and advising them on trying to maximise their income and save money where they can. We're doing more and more activities as well.

"We can't stop energy prices from doubling, we can't stop the macro things, but we try and do what we can with the resources we've got as an independent charity. We're working with other colleagues, other charities, local councils and others to try and do the most we can for people. We recognise it was already tough for people.

"It really does help to talk. We don't necessarily have all the answers but we don't want people sitting in their homes, worried and not talking about it. I'd really encourage people who are really worried about this Winter and the challenges they're facing to come and talk to us. We'll make sure they get someone who listens to them, treats them with dignity and tries to plan with them a way forward."

Find out more about Age UK in Scarborough on their website or Facebook page.

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