Community Foundation asks Cheshire to ‘Pay it Forward’

Cheshire Community Foundation are encouraging people over 65 to spread some winter warmth and donate their Winter Fuel Payment to charity, if they don’t need it themselves.

The Winter Fuel Payment is a government benefit that is not means tested, meaning that all people over 65 receive the funds regardless of their circumstances. Most older people will rely on this £200-£300 boost to their income to cover escalating fuel costs, but there are some who will be in a position to pay it forward, helping others who would otherwise be choosing between heating and eating this winter.

Fuel Poverty is a growing problem in Cheshire and Warrington, with over 1 in 10 homes going cold this winter. This means over 40,000 people will be without heating during falling temperatures. Older people are most at risk, the cold significantly impacting their health and even causing hundreds of avoidable deaths.

Cheshire Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter appeal will direct funds to a number of trusted local charities who can provide hot meals, regular activity and social contact for vulnerable older people and those in fuel poverty.

The Foundation’s job is always to assess the data first, to really understand the scale of a problem. For the over-85s in Cheshire East, approaching winter means a 57% increase in deaths, which is much higher than national average.

Covid has taught us how important respiratory health is to older people in particular, and the data shows older people in cold homes are more than twice as likely to suffer respiratory problems. The recent rise in energy costs, in combination with the cut in universal credit will plunge over 40’000 people into freezing temperatures this winter.

Cheshire has many remote, rural communities who are set to be hardest hit by a cold winter. We need to look after our isolated elderly who will be a long way from being able to pay for their fuel this winter. Some data suggests an average rural household could be £600 short.

Sadly fuel poverty and food poverty usually go hand in hand. Thousands of people in Cheshire and Warrington this winter will be choosing between heating or eating. After a year that has taken its toll on all of our mental health, the stress of this kind of predicament must be hard to bear.

The Community Foundation will be grateful for donations of any size, so although donating the Winter Fuel Payment is a great way to help, even £10 will make a difference. If you would like to help us to continue to support the most vulnerable members of your community through this crisis, please donate whatever you can online here, or to speak to us, email:

office@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk