Extra support to keep elderly and vulnerable in Mansfield warm this winter

The Cadent Foundation has granted £40,000 to community action charity Groundwork to create 2,700 winter warmer packs for those most in need.

The packs will be distributed via local food banks and community hubs across the country, including in Nottingham and Mansfield.

Each pack contains a range of items to help people keep warm this winter such as socks, gloves, hat, scarf, hot water bottle, blanket, thermal flask mug and energy saving lightbulbs.

Latest figures revealed there were an estimated 28,300 excess winter deaths in England and Wales in 2019/20, 19.6 per cent higher than the previous year.

Respiratory diseases accounted for almost 40 per cent of all excess winter deaths and according to fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, 8,500 were due to cold homes.

Groundwork’s Green Doctors programme provides energy saving advice that helps people to keep warm, well, and save money by reducing energy bills.

Graham Duxbury, national chief executive of Groundwork, said: “During the cold winter months, people are expected to use 30 per cent more energy on average than they normally would.

"With more people at home, increased utility costs and unemployment rising due to the financial impact of the pandemic, more families will be experiencing extreme financial hardship as well as the emotional strain of keeping themselves and their loved ones well.

“Fuel poverty is also a major factor in our ability to cope with disease. Living in a dangerously cold home increases the risk of heart attacks, respiratory illness, pneumonia and affects mental health, which means finding cost effective ways of keeping people warm is essential.”

Julia Dwyer, director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this grant to Groundwork to provide practical support to those who need it most. Many vulnerable households are facing even bleaker challenges as we head into winter and it’s reassuring to know these packs will help make a real difference at such a difficult time of year.”