Tag Archives: carers

Almost half of carers made ill by money worries

December 2, 2011   Carers, carersweek, ukcuts

Almost half of people who look after sick or disabled loved ones have themselves fallen ill because of money worries, a survey shows.

By , Social Affairs Editor

7:00AM GMT 02 Dec 2011

Carers said they had lost earnings because of their responsibilities but at the same time 45 per cent said they had run out of money because of extra costs for medicines, transport and specialist equipment.

Many carers said they had cut back on essentials such as food and heating just to make ends meet while almost a third were living on their bank overdrafts.

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Carers fear the fuel bills

December 1, 2011   Carers, fuel poverty

Fuel poverty affects a quarter of UK’s households as bills soar and pay freezes

Exclusive: Figure rises from a fifth of homes last year, meaning coalition will fail to meet its legal duty to end fuel poverty by 2016

 

Fuel poverty is defined as when a household spends 10% or more of its income on gas and electricity bills.

A quarter of all households in England and Wales have now fallen into fuel poverty following an autumn of steep increases in energy bills and stagnating incomes, the Guardian can reveal.

The dramatic increase in fuel poverty – up from nearly one in five households last year to one in four now – will be highly embarrassing to the government, which has a statutory obligation to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016. It now looks certain to fail to meet its legal duty.

Previous government projections forecast that this year would see 4.1m households in fuel poverty, which is defined as those who have to spend 10% or more of their income to achieve adequate warmth and light.

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Fakenham Christmas Tree Festival

December 1, 2011   Cancer, Carers, charities, hospital

Church Christmas festival is year’s highlight

 


The highlight of the church year in Fakenham, its renowned Christmas Tree Festival, starts today (December 1) from 10am to 8pm until December 8.
Fakenham Xmas tree FestivalThe Festival, which attracted over 18,000 people last year, lights up the church with 90 Christmas trees, each decorated for one of the 78 charities taking part.

Entrance is free, but organizers suggest you take a bag of coins so that you can donate money at your favourite charity trees. Charities include Wells Community Hospital Trust, Cancer Research UK, St John Ambulance, Royal British Legion, The Salvation Army and the EDP We Care Appeal.

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