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Residents of Cumbria can get assistance with their fuel bills from Winter Warmth Fund. The funds from the programme are aimed at helping older people stay warm during the winter, and the grants will prioritise them when it comes to any aid. If there is extra funding or donations available from the community, then other families on a low income can also get help with paying any arrears they have on their gas bills during the winter.

The programme is run by Cumbria Community Foundation, and it has been operating for a few years and thousands of people from the county area have been able to keep their homes warm since then. In a normal year, about 200 people, most of them older, may pass away due to lack of heat and the cold during the winter, so the funds have in effect helped keep people safe, healthy, and may have even saved lives over the years.

The Winter Warmth Fund in Cumbria relies on donations from the community. The money raised will go towards helping with the payment of bills for households on a low income that are facing a shut off. It also allows older people to use their income or pensions for other expenses as well, such as food, as the funds free up their money for other need. The programme is run by a not-for-profit charity, so the expenses to keep that organization running are low.

Priority of charity fuel grants in Cumbria

While the Cumbria Community Foundation tries to help as many households as possible, the aid provided is limited. Some people are given enough help just to keep one room warm, but that can be enough for them to address any health or safety issues they are facing. So even heating a small portion of their home can give them a place to go during the cold.

Also, the grant may also be provided along with other schemes and advice from the Winter Warmth Fund, as the aim is to address any need that an older, vulnerable person has. All this aid can assist with arrears for utility bills and other expenses the individual has.

When applying, trustees from the Cumbria Community Foundation charity will review an application for merit. The grants are limited, so some disadvantaged people will be refused and referred to other local charities or council programmes. Or they may be given aid from other sources. The priority is on those with a health or safety concern, such as an illness. Also, the grant are for people in poverty and that have no other means to pay the electricity bills on their own.

A team of professionals also partner with the charity and administrate it. They also provide other assistance and advice to people that are applying for a grant, so the resources are wide ranging.

The address of the foundation is at Dovenby Hall in Cumbria. Applications can be done online, by calling or 01900 825760, or people can drop in at the office. The team can provide guidelines on how to get help from Winter Warmth Fund, and what that application process is.