A campaign has been launched in Fife to support vulnerable people struggling to keep warm over the winter months.
Cosy Kingdom is seeking donations for its Help Fuel Fife Folk campaign, which is aiming to help people who can’t pay their bills and heat their homes between December and March.
The group hopes residents who don’t feel they need their winter fuel payment will pass it on to others who could benefit from it more.
New figures show 35% of households in the region are classed as living in fuel poverty, meaning they are spending more than 10% of their annual income trying to heat their properties.
National Records for Scotland statistics suggest 186 people in Fife died in 2018/19 due to winter-related causes, including influenza and pneumonia.
Cosy Kingdom project manager Bruce McCall said Fifers were having to choose between cooking hot meals and heating their homes.
“Simply keeping warm in winter is a challenge for many people in Fife, who are already struggling to afford increasing and expensive fuel bills,” he said.
“In addition, the cold winter months threaten ill health and isolation.
“We’re asking for any donations, however large or small, to help us support those in need.”
Cosy Kingdom is a partnership project involving Greener Kirkcaldy, St Andrews Environmental Network and Citizens Advice and Rights Fife, which offers free and impartial energy advice.
Last year, its advisers helped more than 2,200 households.
Campaign organisers are urging people who receive the winter fuel payment but don’t feel they need it to donate the cash, so it can be spent on measures such as low energy halogen heaters, thermal curtains, radiator panels, LED bulbs, draught-proofing and emergency fuel top-ups for those most in need.
Mr McCall highlighted how one client with physical and learning difficulties, who he named Sarah, was visited last year after finding it difficult to keep her home warm.
“As well as helping Sarah manage her energy use and understand her bills, Cosy Kingdom installed warm thermal curtains to keep out the draughts, and radiator panels to help reflect heat back into her home,” he said.
“With Cosy Kingdom’s help, Sarah’s home was much warmer, and this relieved a lot of her stress.”
Anyone who thinks they can help is asked to give what they can spare through the online donations page at www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/fuel, send a cheque, call 01592 858458, or pop into 8 East Fergus Place in Kirkcaldy from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm or from noon until 4.30pm on Wednesday.
