Urgent help needed for local Surviving Winter Appeal

600 elderly people in Devon are at risk of dying as a result of fuel poverty this winter. And that's not all, for every additional winter death, there are an estimated eight admissions to hospital, 32 attendances at outpatient care and 30 social service calls. That's 4,800 hospital admissions, 19,200 outpatients and 18,000 social service calls in Devon each year.

Last winter, many people suffering fuel poverty remained confined to one room in an attempt to keep themselves warm. Retired widower David said "If it gets far too cold, I go to bed. Last winter I spent more time in bed than I did downstairs."  Beyond the hospital admissions and social service visits it is known that relieving cold and debt (for example, from energy bills) could reduce depression by half and visits to general practitioners by a quarter.

In response to this need and as part of a national programme we are launching a Devon Surviving Winter Appeal. 

Devon Community Foundation is asking you to consider donating your Winter Fuel Payment or whatever you can to those who desperately need extra support during the winter. If you feel you could afford to forego your Winter Fuel Payment to the Surviving Winter Appeal or would like to help in anyway please do.

• Click on ‘donate here' or
• http://www.justgiving.com/SurvivingWinter2012 or
• Send a cheque made out to Devon Community Foundation with a giftaid form to:

Surviving Winter

Devon Community Foundation

The Factory, Leat Street

Tiverton, EX16 5LL

Funds raised will be re-directed to elderly and vulnerable people in Devon to help them keep their homes warm and to alleviate the effects of fuel poverty.

*Based on Devon elderly population figures, national fuel poverty death statistics and Age UK's Fuel Poverty Devon report

*Administration costs will be taken from Gift Aid.