Friends of the Elderly’s Winter Appeal has raised £18,778 to support its Grants Programme, a service focused on helping and supporting vulnerable, older people living throughout England and Wales.

Mark Wilson, Friends of the Elderly’s interim co-chief executive, said: “The winter months are notoriously hard and tough for many older people, but thanks to the kind donations Friends of the Elderly received as part of its Winter Appeal, the charity has been able to help and support over 352 older people through its Grants Programme.”                  

Paul and Evelyn – not their real names – are just one example of the many older people we have supported.

Both in their seventies, they were struggling with the cold and each night they would sit huddled on the sofa in dressing gowns with duvets wrapped around their knees.

“We were struggling when the energy bills went up so much and our oven had also broken,” Paul said.

“We were both so worried and it made me feel depressed. You have to watch every penny.

“We are old, so we don’t eat a lot, but we were still having to decide between eating or turning on the heating.                                              

“Sitting in the cold is so awful that we would just get into bed to try and keep warm. I would be grumpy with my wife and constantly stressed, you get so in your head worrying.

“To be so cold and not be able to turn on your heating is soul destroying, it affects your mental health. 

“We don’t put the heating on as we don’t want to spend what we can’t afford; we don’t want to be in debt. That would be even more of a worry.”

Through its fund, Friends of the Elderly provided Paul and Evelyn with a grant of £500 to help with their heating costs.

“The grant was a Godsend, we felt so overwhelmed when we received it, I started crying,” adds Paul.

“It has without a doubt eased our stress and anxiety. We felt relieved, we didn’t have to worry about food.”

Wilson said: “Thanks to the generosity of all those who donated to the Winter Appeal, Friends of the Elderly has been able to help people by repairing or replacing cookers for hot meals, given grants to people to enable them to buy new warm clothes to stop them shivering, as well as purchasing beds and bedding to provide recipients with warmth and comfort through the cold winter nights. “In total, this winter, through its Winter Appeal, the charity has been able to help 352 people, giving them the support they need and deserve.

“Helping older people like Paul and Evelyn is at the core of our Winter Appeal.

“It’s crucial that we continue to support as many older people as possible, helping them to keep warm, comfortable, and safe.

“The Winter Appeal is pivotal in helping us to support and make positive differences to many vulnerable older people they have nowhere else to turn.”