How to apply for funds to stay warm this winter

Cumbria Community Foundation’s Winter Warmth Fund has now raised £163,280 to help people stay warm in the winter.
More than £37,000 has been donated by generous older people who gave part or all of
their Winter Fuel Payment from the Government to help others in greater need.
The rest came from a successful bid to the Department of Health for a slice of the
£20m ‘Warm Homes Healthy People Fund’ which was set aside to fund revenue projects
which help vulnerable people.
The bid for the extra Warm Homes Healthy People Fund money was made jointly by
the Cumbria Affordable Warmth Partnership which is made up of Cumbria County
Council, NHS Cumbria and a number of other voluntary and statutory organisations.
This funding can only be used for specific revenue projects that don’t overlap with the existing
Warm Front project, like refurbishing boilers, social housing, low energy lighting repairs,
maintenance, like for like replacement and emergency repairs to heating systems.

Andy Beeforth, Director of Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Our Winter Warmth
Fund has grown beyond my wildest expectations thanks to our successful bid for the
extra ‘one-off’ Government money. We’ll be able to help more older people than last year,
and also help other vulnerable people. The money donated by individuals and businesses
has been set aside just for older people, the rest is open to other vulnerable groups.”

“It is a truly amazing reflection of how selfless people can be. If you had asked me
when we launched this year’s Winter Warmth appeal whether we could more than triple
donations from the public and then attract an extra £130,000 to transform the homes and
lives of whole range of other vulnerable groups, I’d have said ‘If only.’
James Airey, Cumbria County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said:
“Last winter Cumbria was in the grip of near arctic conditions with overnight temperatures
dropping as low as -17 in some rural areas. While the current conditions are by no means
as severe as this it is still vital that we remain vigilant to the needs of our most vulnerable
residents during these colder months.
“This additional funding is fantastic news for Cumbria and testament to the extremely
valuable and important work carried out by the Cumbria Affordable Warmth Partnership“
How do people apply for help?
Individuals and families can apply for a grant - the aim is to reduce the number of excess
winter deaths and numbers of people living in cold homes across Cumbria
You must either
1. be over 60
2. have at least one child under 5
3. have a chronic underlying health condition, particularly respiratory or coronary, or
4. have a disability particularly affected by cold weather and receive
• State pension and/or Pension Credit only
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance that includes a work-related
activity or support component
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
• Disability Living Allowance
and struggle to maintain a basic acceptable standard of living during the winter due to the
cost of heating your home and the restrictions of cold weather
How much can you apply for?
• The normal grant is £125 or £250 in exceptional circumstances
If you would like to apply to this fund please contact one of the following:
If you are over 60:
Age UK Barrow: Mike May 01229 831425
Age UK Carlisle and Eden: Moira Eddington 01768 863618
Age UK South Lakeland: Dave Thomson 01539 728180
Age UK West Cumbria (Allerdale and Copeland): Christine Timney 01946 66669 or 08443
843843
If you have vulnerable children under 5:
North Allerdale, Carlisle, Eden and South Lakeland: Barnardo’s: Richard Simpson 01900
816164
South Allerdale, Barrow and south Copeland: Action for Children: Steph Crosthwaite
01900 325251
North Copeland: Howgill Family Centre: Diane Kenmare 01946 62681