Suffolk charity's Surviving Winter Appeal will go ahead

The Suffolk Community Foundation's Surviving Winter Appeal has been running for more than a decade and encouraged pensioners who did not need their winter fuel payment to donate it to others to help them stay warm.

However, Keir Starmer's decision to cut winter fuel payments to only those people on pension credits or other means-tested benefits means more than 150,000 Suffolk residents will lose out on the money. 

The launch of the Surviving Winter Appeal in 2023 (Image: Eastern Education Group) In a statement on its website, the charity said: "We know that we are likely to receive fewer donations as a result, and have therefore been looking carefully at how we can continue to run Surviving Winter so that those people most in need continue to benefit." 

Hannah Bloom, director of philanthropy and engagement at the Suffolk Community Foundation, said: "We are delighted that we will be running Surviving Winter again, as local need for the support it offers is likely to be greater than ever this year.

"We are currently finalising our plans and will be sharing more detail about the appeal, how people can support it and how to apply for money when we officially launch Surviving Winter 2024/25 later this month.

“We would appeal to anyone who feels able to donate to consider doing so and help us make a real difference to those who need it the most as the colder weather starts to set in.”

The foundation has confirmed the appeal will go ahead (Image: Yui Mok/PA) Anyone who would like to donate to the Surviving Winter Appeal can visit https://www.suffolkcf.org.uk/surviving-winter-appeal/. 

As many as 177,000 Suffolk residents were previously currently eligible for winter fuel payments. 

The government will continue to provide £200 to households receiving pension credit and £300 to those households receiving pension credit where someone is aged over 80.

More information on this year's Surviving Winter Appeal will be revealed next month.