Heating oil users receive help from winter appeal

27 January 2012

Posted by Kim Bardsley

An elderly couple in south Yorkshire who rely on heating oil to stay warm have become the first people to benefit from an appeal to provide assistance to vulnerable households.

The Sheffield Star-backed Surviving Winter appeal, which is co-ordinated by the South Yorkshire Community Foundation (SYCF), has raised more than £11,000 in the county since November by encouraging financially secure people to donate their Winter Fuel Payments to those more in need.

Money raised through the campaign will be used to help some of the 73,000 pensioners estimated to be living in fuel poverty in the local area.

This week, Dennis and Mary Rix received the first payment from the fund as they were awarded a grant of £125 to help heat their home.

Mr Rix explained the couple usually have to use their heating sparingly due to the high cost of fuel and the fact their home is difficult to insulate.

"Last winter really was quite difficult," he said, adding: "The oil trucks couldn't get out to us because they couldn't get down the lane."

Chief executive of the SYCF Pauline Grice stated elderly people are facing a range of difficulties when it comes to heating their home, including poor energy efficiency and high bills, particularly for homes that are off the mains gas grid.

The Star noted heating oil prices in the area increased by 28.2 per cent over the last 12 months.

Elsewhere, the Surviving Winter's appeal in Norfolk has been highly praised by the Bishop of Norwich, as donations to the fund in the district have totalled over £47,000.

This has been further boosted by an additional £25,000 from the county council, which has led to the campaign raising almost three times its original target, the Eastern Daily Press reports.

In an open letter to all those who contributed, the Right Reverend Graham James said it demonstrates the generosity of Norfolk's residents.

"This can only benefit those that continue to need help at this difficult time of year," he continued, adding the appeal is still open to those who wish to donate.

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