32,000 older Cumbrians live alone, and with concerns over social isolation and the cold winter months, action needs to be taken to prevent fuel and food poverty, as well as social isolation for the older community.

The Winter Warmth Appeal collects people’s warm generosity and gives it back out to vulnerable older people to ensure they can heat their homes properly and remain safe and well during the colder months.

Match Funding Challenge – Donate and make double the difference

Donate between 7th November and 9th December to our Winter Warmth Appeal and your donation will be matched £1:£1 thanks to our match funding champions.  Thanks to the generosity of our match funding champions, we have a match funding pot of £187,500.

Please donate and make double the impact.

Match Funding Champions 2022:
A huge thank you to our generous match funding champions: WCF Ltd, the John Laing Charitable Trust, Sellafield Ltd, Cumbria County Council, Roselands Trust, Nuclear Waste Services, The Johnson Fund, Brian and Ann Clark Fund, The Harvey Family Fund, The Hadfield Trust, Rural Getaways Ltd and private donors.

WCF Ltd: “With so many homeowners facing financial pressures as a result of rising fuel bills, the Winter Warmth Appeal is such an important way to help keep Cumbrian families in fuel poverty warm and safe this winter. Allan Stobart Fuels is one of Cumbria’s largest oil distributors and WCF are proud to support this appeal financially, as well as prioritising vulnerable customers when it comes to making heating oil deliveries in cold weather conditions” Jo Ritzema, Managing Director.

John Laing Charitable Trust: “The John Laing Charitable Trust is delighted to be able to match funds for the Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal again this year. This support will provide some relief during the winter months to vulnerable people in the community, including many struggling to cope with increased fuel prices.” Helen Parker, Trust Director.

Cumbria County Council: “The cost-of-living crisis has overtaken Covid-19 as the major public health threat over the coming months. Difficulty in heating houses leads directly to increased lung and heart health problems and contributes to the higher rate of hospitalisations and deaths that we see over the winter, so I’m particularly worried about what might happen this year. Winter is always a particularly difficult time for many people, including those who are older and on lower incomes, and this year is likely to be exceptionally so.” Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health.

Johnson Fund: “As if Covid-19 troubles were not enough, we now see energy prices soaring, adding immeasurably to the real concerns among particularly the housebound and elderly at the onset of winter. Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Appeal is specifically designed to address this issue, for Cumbrians by Cumbrians, my wife and I wholeheartedly support it and I strongly encourage you all to do likewise.” Jim Johnson.

The Roselands Trust: “The Roselands Trust have been pleased to support The Winter  Warmth Appeal since 2010. It is a proven way to actively help enrich the lives of so many elderly and vulnerable people in our region which is the main objective of our Charity.” Kenneth Johnson.

Rural Getaways Ltd: “My family have been privileged to be able to build up a fabulous family business in Cumbria over the last 20 years I am proud that I have achieved this from a relatively deprived tough background where we often had to choose between food or heating . That feeling never leaves you and so I am delighted to know that this donation will encourage others to give and together we can make people happy. Oh and of course WARM.” David Khan, Director.