Dominic Bareham dominic.bareham2@archant.co.uk
Thursday, October 13, 2011
12.48 AM

Winter fuel poverty could hit Norfolk harder than other parts of the country, an Age UK Norfolk representative has warned.

Linda Gill, the charity’s development manager, said the county had a higher than average elderly population receiving the winter fuel payment struggling to meet the increasing cost of fuel to keep their homes warm during the cold winter months.

She was speaking at today’s launch of the Norfolk Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter Fund, backed by the Bishop of Norwich the Right Rev Graham James, which is encouraging people to donate unwanted winter fuel payments to those in greatest need.

The warning comes with weather experts warning the UK faces another freezing October and November, similar to last year when temperatures plummeted as low as -17 degrees.

“Winter fuel poverty is a problem for Norfolk because we have got a higher than average elderly population and a lot of them are living in rural isolation.

“Older people are at a disadvantage because they are on a fixed income and fuel prices are rising all the time,” Mrs Gill added.

Figures from the Foundation show 5.4 million households in the UK are living in fuel poverty and one in three pensioners across the country experience fuel poverty, with parts of Norfolk having a higher percentage of excess winter deaths than the UK average due to fuel poverty.

The consequences include psychological stress, worry and social isolation and other health problems including respiratory and circulatory conditions.

Mrs Gill added: “We can provide them with lots of advice about keeping warm in the winter, but this scheme is fantastic because we feel that we can get money out to the most vulnerable in the county.”

The Right Rev James said a parishioner approached him last year saying he was one of a number of people who wanted to give winter fuel payments they received from the government to older people who were in greater need.

So he gave his backing to the Norfolk Community Foundation project, which is in its second year.

“We are calling for generosity from people for whom this money isn’t crucial for them.”

People who do not receive winter fuel payments can also make donations.

To find out more about Age UK and the support on offer phone 01603 787111 or the Foundation on 01603 623958.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/age_uk