We’ve often heard people say they wish they could donate their winter fuel allowance or energy rebate payment to directly help local people and families in greater need. Now you can, through our new Warmer Winter campaign.
At our seven food bank welcome centres across Wandsworth Borough, we’re meeting people and families at the sharpest end of the cost of living crisis. Many can’t afford to top-up their gas and electricity prepayment meters, and are asking us for food that doesn’t need much, if any, cooking. Most are saying they fear they won’t be able to turn their heating on at all this winter.
We’re very worried. Living in cold and damp homes severely impacts health, and many people referred to us have a long-term health condition or disability, or are caring for someone who does. We know that children are particularly vulnerable in cold and damp homes; and around 1 in 3 emergency food parcels we provide are for children.
With the prices for gas and electricity going up, it’s a worry. I think do I spend on food or on electric? When I get home I make myself a hot cup of tea, and I sit under a woolly blanket to keep warm.
You can help now
If you don’t need (all of) your energy rebate payment or winter fuel allowance this year, you can now donate it to our Warmer Winter campaign on our online Just Giving page. Or you can just choose to make a special gift of whatever you can afford today.
We’ll convert people’s donations into £49 fuel prepayment vouchers and issue them directly to local people referred in severe hardship to Wandsworth Foodbank, in partnership with Thinking Works (a local not-for-profit company).*
These vouchers will enable people and families to top up their prepayment meters, ensuring they can cook the food we provide and put the heating on on the coldest days.
Alongside this, we’ll continue to provide emergency food and signpost people to additional sources of help. Foodbank guests can also receive expert advice from our four Foodbank Advice Project advisers, who help people and families to maximise their income and resolve what’s causing severe hardship as much as possible moving forwards.
Anything you can give today will make a real different to local people during this cost of living crisis. Thank you!
*There is a £4.20 charge per £49 voucher from the company that issues prepayment vouchers to Thinking Works. If more money is donated to this campaign than is needed in fuel vouchers through the winter, Wandsworth Foodbank will use any extra to continue to provide emergency food, support and advice to local people.
