Northamptonshire charity raises £7,000 to support older and vulnerable people over winter months

Local charity, Northamptonshire Community Foundation (NCF) raised just over £7,000 in their appeal to support older and vulnerable people in Northamptonshire over the winter months.

The NCF's annual Winter Well-being appeal aims to raise funds for several local community groups and charities to support their older and vulnerable clients in staying warm, well and fed throughout the colder months.

CEO of NCF, Victoria Miles DL, said: “We are grateful for the generosity shown year on year to help support our Winter Well-being appeal, so many people give by donating their own annual fuel allowance to make a difference to those who need more help during the winter months.”

One in 10 households in the county live in fuel poverty, spending more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel and often having to choose between feeding themselves or heating their homes.

This funding went to a few selected community groups that have all been working tirelessly throughout the coronavirus pandemic to provide vital - and often lifechanging - support.

One of the community groups awarded this funding was Daventry New Street Day Centre, which provided a socially distanced winter lunch club in their cafe. They adapted their project due to the most recent lockdown and have been delivering wellness packs and lunches twice a week to older and vulnerable people's homes.

Serve Rushden received funding to run their Covid-19 Emergency Community Support initiative, providing essential groceries, prescriptions and friendly telephone calls to those in need.

Chief executive officer at Serve Rushden, Jessica Slater, said: "We are delighted that the Foundation has chosen Serve to support people at home to keep healthy and well during the winter. The pandemic has highlighted the need to keep people connected and supported at home as much as we possibly can by providing access to hot meals, heating and healthy food.”

Power of the Mind Networks additionally received funding to run a series of online Ubuntu Afro Dance exercise for the older BAME community, who are currently shielding, in a bid to reduce social isolation whilst boosting their physical and mental well-being.

NCF has funded 62 projects on behalf of their generous network of donors and supporters since the launch of the Winter appeal in 2010, awarding a total of £219,832 across the county.

Many donors chose to donate their winter fuel allowance to the appeal including local married couple, Robert and Joanna Tomkinson. They said: "“My wife and I donate our winter fuel allowance each year to the winter appeal so that those in difficulties from the winter cold and wet may benefit and thus hopefully prevent related problems.”

Visit the Northamptonshire Community Foundation website to learn more about their annual winter well-being appeal.