SCF Annual Review 2019-20
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
l<br />
<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong><strong>20</strong>19</strong>/<strong>20</strong>07<br />
Every year, we support around 500 older households with<br />
a financial grant to help them stay warm, safe and well<br />
alongside helping them to access specialist support and<br />
advice on everything from finance and benefits to social<br />
and community groups.<br />
“The Surviving Winter campaign<br />
appealed to me right from the start.<br />
If everyone who can afford it gave<br />
their Winter Fuel Payment to Somerset<br />
Community Foundation’s Surviving<br />
Winter appeal, hundreds of our<br />
pensioners across Somerset would have<br />
a more comfortable winter.”<br />
Michael Eavis,<br />
Founder of Glastonbury Festivals<br />
Mildred’s story is<br />
testament to how your<br />
incredible support of<br />
the campaign makes a<br />
very real difference in<br />
difficult times.<br />
When she became<br />
widowed, Mildred<br />
found it increasingly<br />
difficult to afford to<br />
heat her home on<br />
just a state pension<br />
alone. She told us<br />
how a Surviving<br />
Winter grant, and the<br />
support and advice<br />
she received from<br />
our Surviving Winter<br />
partner, has had a<br />
life-changing affect.<br />
I’ve lived on my own since my<br />
husband died a few years ago.<br />
My cottage doesn’t have central<br />
heating, and it can be quite<br />
draughty as it’s an old place. The<br />
doors don’t really shut properly<br />
anymore. I have to buy logs and<br />
coal to keep the place warm.<br />
It can start to cost quite a lot,<br />
especially in the winter, and your<br />
state pension doesn’t go far.<br />
It’s always a concern to me,<br />
whether or not I’ll be able<br />
to afford to pay for the fuel<br />
throughout the winter, and it<br />
causes me a great deal of worry<br />
every year. My health is not what<br />
it was and I feel cold all the<br />
time, now.<br />
The Surviving Winter grant<br />
made a huge difference to my<br />
situation. It felt like a great<br />
weight was lifted and I felt more<br />
settled knowing that with that<br />
extra help I could afford to keep<br />
my home warm. It also meant<br />
I worried less about my health,<br />
which is deteriorating.<br />
Since receiving the Surviving<br />
Winter grant, with the help and<br />
support of the Surviving Winter<br />
partner, I’m now receiving<br />
Pension Credit too, which is a<br />
great help financially.<br />
I’m very grateful for the extra<br />
support from Surviving Winter,<br />
it’s improved my situation so<br />
much for the better.”
Change language