A Dorset charity is launching its 13th Surviving Winter appeal and has warned that older people are at greater risk than ever before due to the cost-of-living crisis.

Dorset Community Foundation works with Citizens Advice to distribute £200 grants to help identify pensioners and vulnerable people aged 50 and over, living in fuel poverty.

Last year, the appeal raised £86,400, helping 420 people who can often only afford to heat one room for a few hours a day, routinely skipping meals to save money for their bills.

Dorset Echo:

Grant Robson, director of Dorset Community Foundation said: “We are launching this year’s appeal at a time shopping bills and rents are rising every week and everyone knows about the terrifying hike in fuel bills that worry older people.

“People are receiving more government help but in real terms they are worse off than they were last year, and older people are too scared and too proud to run up a debt and would rather go without food at a time of year when they need all the nourishment they can get.

“It’s well known that colder weather exacerbates respiratory and circulatory diseases and the most recent government figures tell us that in Dorset 260 people died of cold-related illness - How can that be acceptable in a civilised country.”

Katrina Ford, business development manager at East Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice said: “The charity has seen inquiries about help with fuel bills spike, I think it is fair to say we have not seen anything like this before and demand is not slowing.

“We are concerned with what the demand is going to be like this winter and more than ever the funding from Surviving Winter is going to be vitally important.”

In previous years Citizens Advice advisors were able to help some people switch to cheaper tariffs but with the collapse of dozens of smaller companies that option has gone.

A recipient of last year’s grant said: “Without it I would have definitely finished the year with a fuel debt. I am disabled with a condition that becomes unbearable in the cold and damp of winter, without heating.”

Mr Robson added: “This year fewer people might feel they are in that position because the cost-of-living crisis is cutting far deeper but we hope they will still be generous and help us because cold homes and poor diet can be killers. No one needs explaining why it is going to be so tough and we will be relying on the wonderful donors who given us such generous support over the last 12 years to do so again.”

You can donate to the fund here: dorsetcommunityfoundation.org.

To find out more about applying for help you can call Citizens Advice on 01929 775500.