Appeal for the Spirit of Lancashire this Winter

The 2016 Spirit of Lancashire Winter Appeal aims to raise funds and awareness of the combined effects of winter on fellow Lancastrians who may be more vulnerable than most, especially due to natural disasters, fuel poverty and loneliness.

 

The UK has one of the highest increases in winter-related deaths amongst the elderly in Europe. Each winter one older person dies every seven minutes from the cold. Lancashire alone has approximately 70,000 households that experience fuel poverty during the winter months. 

 

For the past 5 years the Community Foundation has been raising funds to help support vulnerable people survive the winter. The Appeal acts as a vehicle for generous pensioners to ‘recycle’ their Winter Fuel payments and has now developed into a giving portal for anyone to donate to support vulnerable people in their communities.

 

The Hapton over 50’s Luncheon Club provides hot meals and social activities for local people over 50, Shelia Livesey, Chair of the Luncheon Club said: “A lot of our ladies have lost their husbands and live alone. All our members who attend our club feel that they have a lifeline, if they don’t attend the club and we have not received a message from them someone we will go and visit them and see if they are ok and see if they would like some lunch at home instead.”

 

The Community Foundation announced the launch of 2016 Appeal during a project visit to previously the flood hit Kirkland and Caterall Memorial Hall in Wyre.  The Community Foundation has kick started the Appeal by making a £10,000 donation from its own funds to help those most in need.

 

Cathy Elliott, Chief executive at the Community Foundation said “Lancashire is one of the most generous counties in the country and we hope many Lancastrians will support the Appeal to demonstrate their spirit of Lancashire to support those less fortunate this Christmas.”