Tag: cost of living crisis

Warm Spaces: A quiet revolution?

Across the UK, through the depths of winter and the Cost of Living Crisis, a movement has been born (writes DAVID BARCLAY).

It’s a quintessentially British kind of movement, powered by an army of volunteers, endless cups of tea and ordinary conversations. As millions of people in the sixth richest country in the world have found themselves unable to heat their own homes, thousands upon thousands of designated ‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ have emerged. And together they are changing the social landscape of our country. 

The Warm Welcome campaign began last summer when senior faith leaders met with former prime minister Gordon Brown to discuss the growing Cost of Living Crisis and the increasingly dire outlook for low income households. In what was almost a throwaway comment, Gordon Brown mentioned that he’d heard of plans for ‘train station waiting room-style heated spaces’ for those unable to pay their energy bills. The room went quiet as the impact of that mental image sunk in. Every person left the meeting determined that something better had to be created. 

Through conversations in the following days and weeks the concept of a ‘Warm Welcome Space’ emerged – somewhere that was free to enter, safe, warm and welcoming. Instead of being prescriptive beyond these basic elements, we decided to trust that local groups knew best what people in their community might need. We build a website, held an online launch event, and then watched in awe as first hundreds and then thousands of groups of every shape and size signed up and got involved – churches, mosques, gurdwaras, libraries, schools, community cafes and many many more. 

For a significant number of these organisations, Warm Welcome has provided a brand and a banner under which to grow and expand their existing activities – extending hours, running new sessions, reaching new parts of the community.

For others it has been a catalyst to try something new – film nights, homework clubs, community meals. The collective impact of these Spaces has been enormous. One woman told the BBC that before she found her local Warm Welcome venue, the only way she could keep warm at home was by staying in bed all day.

Spaces are described by many who use them as a ‘lifeline’. But as well as providing a place of refuge for the cold and hungry, Warm Welcome Spaces have been hubs of community, helping people make connections and build friendships. In doing so they are creating the longer-term social support networks that can sustain people all-year round. They are also often providing the space for intergenerational contact and connection that is increasingly hard to find elsewhere. 

For many of the Warm Welcome Spaces, the experience has been transformational for their own organisation too. Libraries have reinvented themselves as community hubs, attracting families and young people like never before and demonstrating beyond doubt their immense value to the social fabric of their place.

Many churches now have more people attending their Warm Welcome provision than coming along to their Sunday services, inspiring them to reimagine who they exist to serve and how. 

The long-term prospects for Warm Welcome now are fascinating. As well as providing a unifying banner for Warm Spaces, the campaign has raised almost £300k to give out in £1000 microgrants targeted at Spaces in areas of highest deprivation. In doing this, it has created a unique vehicle for funders who want to invest in hyper-local leadership and resilience but at a significant scale.

The Government’s promise to develop a strategy for community spaces and relationships as part of its Levelling Up programme surely can’t fail to focus on what could be done with this now 7000-strong network which is supporting hundreds of thousands of people each week.

And imagine what a programme of work on energy efficiency for Warm Welcome buildings could do, creating huge environmental benefits on our national race to Net Zero whilst boosting the financial resilience of crucial local assets. 

There are also the first signs of Warm Welcome providing a catalyst for systemic change. In Birmingham, Warm Welcome Spaces found a number of people were struggling with issues of damp and mould in their homes. So, they organised themselves to work with the Council, ensuring that all Spaces have access to a senior Council Director who can fast-track cases for a response.

This kind of organising for change is creating a blueprint for other Spaces to work together to listen to and act on the issues facing local people, ensuring that Warm Welcome can go beyond just a short-term practical response to our deep systemic challenges.  

The campaign will change gears at the end of this winter, signposting those who want to carry on running activities to other sources of support. But with the Cost of Living Crisis not showing any signs of abating, preparations will begin immediately for a Warm Welcome campaign that is bigger and better next Winter, nurturing a movement which feels like it is just getting started. 

The outlook for Britain may be bleak in many ways, but Warm Welcome shows that we still have plenty to be hopeful about. When faced with crisis and despair, the community response to the Cost of Living Crisis has been nothing short of heroic. Now it’s up to the rest of society to follow where local people are leading. 

David Barclay is a Partner at Good Faith Partnership, which exists to connect leaders from faith, politics, business and charity on issues of common concern.

He has previously worked as community organiser at the Centre for Theology and Community on the Just Money campaign and founded the Buxton Leadership Programme. He was also previously President of the Oxford Student’s Union.

Online home energy calculator helps customers find the best energy efficient product solutions

Usage of the Heating and Cooling Knowhow Solutions (HACKS) tool has more than doubled since the introduction of the Energy Price Guarantee in October 2021.

An online calculator which reviews a home’s energy usage and provides tailored recommendations on the most cost effective and energy efficient product solutions, has been used by more than 20,000 UK consumers.

Launched in April 2021, the Heating and Cooling Knowhow Solutions (HACKS) calculator empowers consumers who have old, inefficient heating and cooling devices by providing information on more efficient alternatives.

Recent data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has shown that 25% of people in the UK are considering making changes to their home to improve energy efficiency*.

The HACKS tool provides advice on the energy savings possible through installing low carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps and insulation, showing how much a household could save annually on their energy bills and carbon emissions.

Once a person has entered their information into the calculator, they are recommended heating and cooling products from the Topten UK website. This includes information on a product’s energy efficiency ratings, the selection criteria used to determine their efficiency and a product guide that outlines the suitability of installation and use in the home.

The calculator has been built by the HACKS project, a consortium of seventeen partners across fifteen countries, with financial support of the European Horizon 2020 programme. Energy Saving Trust is the UK partner for the HACKS project.

Emilie Carmichael, Head of International at Energy Saving Trust, said: “We’re pleased that the HACKS calculator has provided expert advice to thousands of households across the UK, at a time when we know many people are looking more for solutions to improve the efficiency and reduce the running costs of their home.

“Having the right energy set up at home is key to ensuring energy usage is both efficient and cost effective”.

You can access the HACKS online calculator here. The calculator will be live until 31 August 2023.

* Data taken from ONS Survey: Attitudes towards improving energy efficiency of homes by housing tenure, Great Britain: 11 May to 5 June 2022

New annual Winter Heating Payment begins

£20m to help 400,000 Scots with heating costs

Help with heating costs is on its way to around 400,000 people on low incomes through a new Scottish Government benefit, with the first payments processed this week.

More than £20m will be paid out over the course of February and March in Winter Heating Payments.

Winter Heating Payment replaces the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Cold Weather Payment. Unlike the DWP benefit it replaces, Winter Heating Payment is not paid only to people when there is a sustained period of cold weather in a specific location, but is a reliable annual £50 payment.

Those eligible for Winter Heating Payment will receive it automatically, with no need to apply. It is paid through Social Security Scotland and people will get a letter to let them know they are eligible.

Minister for Social Security Scotland Ben Macpherson said: “Our new Winter Heating Payment is the thirteenth Scottish Government benefit. This year it will provide 400,000 people most in need with a reliable, automatic £50 payment to help towards their heating costs.

“The Payment will reach significantly more people than the benefit it has replaced. On average only 185,000 people received the equivalent Cold Weather Payments from the UK Government over the last seven years – whereas we will pay everyone eligible every year.

“The Scottish Government is investing around £20 million per year compared with an average of £8.3 million annually paid out through Cold Weather Payment. We will also uprate the next Winter Heating Payment by 10.1%, to £55.05.”

COSLA publish good practice principles for managing school meal debt

A set of good practice principles for the management of School Meal debt have been published by COSLA.

The principles, which are a first for Scotland, and have been developed by COSLA, with partners from across Local Government, have been produced to promote good practice in the management of school meal debt, whilst retaining a level of flexibility to enable local authorities to design and implement approaches which align with the unique needs and circumstances of their communities.

Decisions around school meal debt management, including all aspects of policy and practice, remain at the discretion of each local authority. However these principles may be useful for supporting the review and development of local authority school meal debt policy and practice, as well as supporting effective implementation on an ongoing basis.

The intended audience for these principles is local authority staff across a range of departments (including, for example, education, catering, finance and debt collection) as well as Head Teachers, class teachers and other school staff.

Commenting as he launched the principles COSLA’s Children and Young People Spokesperson Councillor Tony Buchanan said: “As Local Government we’re committed to tackling child poverty and ensuring that all children and young people can engage fully in their education, free from barriers. This has never been more important than now, as families continue to face the impact of rising costs.

“COSLA recognises that school meal debt is an emotive issue but one that is complex. We’ve worked closely with colleagues in the third sector in response to the research they’ve highlighted, and have developed an agreed set of principles for councils to consider when making decisions on local policy and practice.

“I’m pleased that these new principles will support councils to reflect good practice in their management of school meal debt, as part of their own, locally responsive, approaches to supporting children, young people, and families.”

Martin Canavan, Head of Policy and Participation at Aberlour children’s charity, said: ““The level of school meal debt in Scotland is concerning and has been rising due to the cost of living crisis.

“Low income families not eligible for free school meals are struggling to feed their children, and many are accruing school meal debt as a result. We need to respond better, with compassion and empathy, to those families and make sure that no child will go hungry at school or is stigmatised by the processes in place for any child to access a meal in school.

“We welcome these school meal debt good practice principles that Cosla has published. These can help councils and schools respond to the issue of school meal debt consistently, sensitively and in a way that recognises the financial pressures and anxiety that low income families face.

“Embedding these principles in practice will help further Scotland’s commitment to the UNCRC and every child’s right to healthy and nutritious food.”

Read COSLA’s Good Practice Principles for Management of School Meal Debt here.

Helping families with their living costs

Extra funding to help offset UK Government benefit cap

The Scottish Government is providing £8.6 million in direct support for people affected by the UK benefit cap as part of its work to tackle child poverty.

An estimated 4,000 families with around 14,000 children are now able to apply for extra financial support through their local council’s Discretionary Housing Payments scheme.

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We are increasing funding to help bridge the gap between what people need in benefits from the UK Government and what they actually receive. Eligible households could be £2,500 better off on average per year as a result.

“We will spend up to £84 million in 2023-24 on Discretionary Housing Payments to mitigate not only the UK Government’s bedroom tax and the on-going freeze to Local Housing Allowance rates, but now also the benefit cap which is pushing families into hardship.

“Our child poverty targets are ambitious and that is why we are choosing to invest significantly more in social security than the funding we receive from Westminster and helping to mitigate the damaging impact of UK Government welfare cuts.”

John Dickie, Chair of the Child Poverty Action Group, said: “Mitigating the UK benefit cap is absolutely the right thing to do. Support for struggling families shouldn’t have an arbitrary limit that pushes children into deeper poverty.

“It’s now vital that everyone affected by the benefit cap applies to their local authority for a Discretionary Housing Payment to replace as far as possible the cash support removed by the cap. The Scottish Government has done the right thing, now the UK Government must act to scrap the cap altogether.”

Laura Millar, Strategic Manager at charity Fife Gingerbread, which helps lone parents and families in need, said: “Last year Fife Gingerbread supported the ‘Scrap the Cap’ campaign calling on Westminster to end the benefit cap and the financial hardship this causes.

“Therefore, the Scottish Government’s commitment to empower local authorities to mitigate the impacts of the benefit cap using Discretionary Housing Payments is a positive step.

“Although the number of households affected across Scotland may be relatively small this is an important measure. The greatest risk is that households may be unaware of their entitlement, and every year millions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed. Therefore, we must all raise awareness of this announcement to ensure those most in need of support receive it.”



Funding for benefit cap mitigation by Scottish local authorities through Discretionary Housing Payments is as follows:

2022-23£2.6 million
2023-24£6 million
Total£8.6 million

The benefit cap is a UK Government policy which limits the total amount of benefit that most working age people can receive, even if their full entitlement would be higher.

Discretionary Housing Payments are administered by Local Authorities to support with housing and living costs.

Further information about support available for people during the cost of living crisis can be found at gov.scot/costoflivingsupport.

Pet expert’s budget-friendly ways to show your pet you love them

We’re all looking for cost-effective ways to show those around us that we love them, and there is no exception when it comes to our pets.

Research from the UK’s largest vet charity, PDSA, shows that the minimum lifetime cost of owning a dog starts at around £5,000 for a small breed, but can be considerably more. These costs can mount even further as owners feel pressured to pamper their pooch with expensive gifts.

Shauna Walsh, Vet Nurse at the charity – which provides vital care for pets in need – has shared her expert tips for showering pets with love, without breaking the bank.

Shauna said: “Particularly around holidays like Valentine’s Day, we often feel compelled to splurge on material gifts for those we love. However, our pets have no perception of cost, and are happiest and healthiest when their welfare needs are met and their owners are close by.

  1. Spend more time together

“Spending quality time with your pet doesn’t cost a penny yet is often what brings them the most joy. In fact, ensuring their social needs are met and even just being in our company can improve a pet’s overall wellbeing.

“Simple things such as taking them on a walk and enjoying the great outdoors together, playing with them, and snuggling on the sofa are all great ways to bond with your four-legged friend.

  1. Learn how to groom your pet at home

“Grooming your pet is a fantastic bonding activity and has many other health benefits too, including helping to distribute natural oils found within your animal’s coat. It also gives you the chance to check for any skin problems or lumps and bumps that, if caught early, could mean easier and cheaper veterinary treatment for your pet.

“Grooming costs can vary depending on breed and coat type, and tight curled coats and long-haired breeds especially will need regular sessions. Therefore, learning how to groom your pooch at home can save you a lot of money, once you’ve purchased the equipment needed.

  1. Rotate your pet’s favourite toys

“While toys are great for playtime and keeping boredom at bay, your pet doesn’t need too many. Rotating them will not only avoid you spending lots of money but will also keep playtime fun and engaging. You can even re-use the same toy for different games – for example, using one for a game of fetch, then hiding it for your pet to find.

“Aside from being heaps of fun, toys are a great way to keep your pet active. Throwing a toy for your dog to chase and retrieve will not only help them stay fit but is a great way to spend time together too – just avoid using sticks, as these can cause nasty injuries, and balls that are too small or squash down easily, which could be a choking hazard.”

Owners and pets

For more advice on cutting the cost of pet care while ensuring your pet remains happy and healthy, please visit www.pdsa.org.uk/lowcostpetcare.

“We are having to skip meals”: Families bear brunt of cost of living crisis as Scots cut back on eating and heating

One in ten consumers in Scotland are skipping meals, new Which? research suggests, as the consumer champion calls on essential businesses to do more to support people through the cost of living crisis.

The consumer champion carried out extensive research with more than 1,000 people representative of the Scottish population to understand how the cost of living crisis is affecting Scottish consumers.

Which? research found financial pressures are leading consumers in Scotland to make choices that could be harmful to their health. One in ten (11%) are skipping meals due to rising food costs – with parents hit particularly hard by this.

One in five (22%) of more than 250 parents in the Scottish survey are prioritising feeding other family members over eating themselves – compared to 8 per cent of the population overall.

One 55-year-old woman said: “We are having to skip meals, not have the heating on and not going out due to fuel costs”.

Nearly eight in 10 (77%) said they had been putting the heating on less due to energy price rises – compared to just under half (46%) last year. 15 per cent of Scottish consumers had been eating fewer cooked meals to save on energy costs and 2 per cent had used a food bank.

A 42-year-old respondent said: “I’m heating the house to a maximum of 15 Degrees… Eating cold things like sandwiches etc. instead of using the cooker”.

Almost nine in 10 consumers said they were worried about energy prices (89%), while concern around food and housing costs have increased sharply compared to the previous year.

The proportion of people worried about food prices increased by 10 percentage points to almost nine in 10 (87%) in December 2022, compared to eight in 10 (77%) in 2021 and six in 10 (63%) in 2020.

Which?’s research shows how justified these concerns about price rises are. The consumer champion estimates that if consumers in Scotland tried to maintain the same spending habits they would need to spend an additional £40 per week – or around £2,080 a year – on food, energy and fuel in December 2022 compared with December 2021. That would mean almost a third (29%) of their household expenditure would be spent on just these essential goods.

This has led many households to make adjustments to cover essential spending. Nearly six in 10 (56%) consumers in Scotland said their household had made at least one adjustment to cover essential spending in the last month, up from nearly half (48%) in 2021 and nearly four in 10 (37%) in 2020. The most common adjustment was cutting back on essentials – which increased to four in 10 (39%) from a quarter (25%) in 2021.

Which?’s research also found that some household types are being hit harder than others by the cost of living crisis. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of parents in Scotland surveyed had to make adjustments to cover essential spending, compared to just over a third (35%) of pensioners.

Only four in 10 (37%) working-age parents surveyed in Scotland say that they are living comfortably or doing alright – compared to half (50%) of Scottish consumers overall.

These financial pressures are causing widespread emotional harm among Scottish consumers. Nearly half (45%) of consumers in Scotland said that concerns around the cost of living have left them feeling anxious and more than a fifth (22%) said they were struggling to sleep due to worries about the cost of living.

A 34-year-old woman said: “I’m severely depressed and worried all the time about being able to pay my bills and have enough money to feed and clothe my kids as well as electricity and gas to heat my home.

“It’s having a massive effect on my mental health, I feel anxious and stressed out all the time”.

A 54-year-old man said: “I’m having sleepless nights worrying what else is rising in price”.

With the UK heading into recession, mortgages and rent costs rising and the energy price guarantee becoming less generous from April, Scottish consumers will only face further financial pressures in 2023.

Which? recently launched a campaign calling on essential businesses – energy firms, broadband providers and supermarkets – to do more to help consumers struggling to make ends meet. For example, supermarkets must ensure that budget line items are widely available, make pricing and offers more transparent and provide targeted promotions to support people that are struggling most with access to affordable food.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “It’s hugely concerning that people in Scotland are losing sleep, skipping meals and sitting in the cold due to rising prices.

“As the cost of living crisis puts huge pressure on household finances, we are calling on businesses in essential sectors like food, energy and broadband providers to do more to help customers get a good deal and avoid unnecessary or unfair costs and charges during this crisis.”

A Connected Scotland: Tackling social isolation and loneliness

Funding will help tackle social impact of rising cost of living

Projects supporting people most at risk of social isolation and loneliness will receive a share of almost £1 million support funding announced today.

The money will help to provide warm spaces, hot meals, group activities and fuel payments to people most at risk of isolation including older people, young parents, carers and disabled people.

Organisations to receive grants/funds include Age Scotland, who will continue to deliver their ‘Keeping The Doors Open’ grants programme, and Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland who are recruiting Urdu and Punjabi-speaking volunteers to make Kindness Calls.

Equalities and Older People’s Minister Christina McKelvie said: “Social isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, especially at this time of year when people can struggle to get outside and socialise. The pandemic and the cost of living crisis have increased isolation for some people, including young people, carers and disabled people.

“The funding will be a lifeline for a range of organisations who are helping to keep people connected during this challenging time.

“This fund is just one of the many crucial steps that we are taking to tackle social isolation and loneliness as part of our plan, A Connected Scotland.”

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland’s Chief Executive Jane-Claire Judson said: “We know that living with a disability or long-term condition can be hugely isolating and that for those who are unable to read or communicate fluently in English, this isolation can be even more significant.

“This funding from the Scottish Government will greatly enhance the ability of our support services to reach non-English speaking and minority ethnic populations in Scotland to reduce isolation and loneliness.

“Ultimately, it will allow us to engage with and support more people across Scotland who are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions, better enabling them to live their lives to the full.”

Chief Executive of Age Scotland Mark O’Donnell said: “Older people’s groups have an incredibly important role in communities across Scotland, supporting health and wellbeing, physical activity, tackling loneliness and food insecurity.

“Our research has identified that around 200,000 over-65s rely on groups like this but the impact of Covid-19 and spiralling inflation has meant that these lifelines have been facing incredible pressures to keeping their doors open. We’re incredibly grateful that the Scottish Government took notice of our research and our ask of greater financial support for older people’s groups.

“The funding will help many such groups and clubs meet the rising cost of energy bills, food, transport and venues to meet, ensuring that their members can stay connected and are able to be as well as they can be.”

18 projects and organisations will receive a share of £971,019. They are:

  • Age Scotland
  • Befriending Networks
  • British Red Cross
  • Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland
  • Glasgow Disability Allowance
  • Home-Start Scotland
  • Youthlink Scotland
  • Cosgrove Care and Jewish Care Scotland
  • Faith in Community Dundee
  • Glasgow Central Mosque Foodbank
  • Safe Families
  • Bethany Christian Trust
  • Christians Against Poverty
  • Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
  • Sikhs in Scotland
  • Church of Scotland
  • Edinburgh City Mission
  • Glasgow City Mission

A Connected Scotland: our strategy for tackling social isolation and loneliness and building stronger social connections

Energy regulator launches urgent investigation into British Gas forced prepayment meter installations

An Ofgem spokesperson said: “These are extremely serious allegations from The Times. We are launching an urgent investigation into British Gas and we won’t hesitate to take firm enforcement action.

“It is unacceptable for any supplier to impose forced installations on vulnerable customers struggling to pay their bills before all other options have been exhausted and without carrying out thorough checks to ensure it is safe and practicable to do so.

“We have launched a major market-wide review investigating the rapid growth in prepayment meter installations and potential breaches of licences driving it.

“We are clear that suppliers must work hard to look after their customers at this time, especially those who are vulnerable. The energy crisis is no excuse for unacceptable behaviour towards any customer, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances.”

FORCE-FITTING payment meters in the home of vulnerable people is “shocking” and unnecessary, according to a leading energy expert.

Energy UK’s former CEO Angela Knight was commenting on the results of an investigation by the Times newspaper which found that British Gas was forcing people to have pre-payment meters.

It found that debt collectors working for the firm were breaking into people’s homes to fit the meters.

Ms Knight told GB News: “I do think it’s a shocking story and I think it’s a wake up call not just to [British Gas owner] Centrica, but to all the energy companies.

“Firstly, there are people who say, I’m not going to pay, they can afford to pay, but they won’t pay…

“That’s what this process is supposed to be for, the process being that the energy company applies to the court for a court order in order to put in a pre-paid meter.

“So the individuals who say they won’t pay, but as I say, they can afford to, they are getting a pre-paid meter, so they’re not cut off.”

In a discussion with Bev Turner, she said: “But then, you’ve got a lot of people who fit into that vulnerable category and that’s people like the elderly, or people who are disabled, it’s those with very young children.

“And if they have hit a difficulty with being able to pay for their energy, and a lot of people are finding it difficult at the moment, then a pre-paid meter is not the answer. 

“They need to have an arrangement with their energy company and importantly, the energy company has a responsibility to find out first if somebody who isn’t paying falls into one of those special categories, and vulnerable categories.

“And if they do, then they shouldn’t be applying to the courts, what they should be doing is making another arrangement.”

Ms Knight added: “Now what Centrica said is they’ve stopped all of their applications right now and good on them.

“Clearly, they’re going to have to sort out the vulnerable from the not vulnerable, but they have not got a few months to do it, and then they can refresh how they approach this problem.

“And I think that what The Times’ sting has done, and what the Centrica announcement means, is that all other energy companies pay exactly the same amount of attention first, before applying for that court order.”

Commenting on the decision by Ofgem, which has ordered British Gas to stop force-fitting prepayment meters, the National Association of Property Buyers said:  “The sorry story of utility providers that was uncovered by The Times newspaper investigation highlights the potential injustices faced by many people in financial difficulty. 

“The NAPB welcomes the  fact that the company concerned has held their hands up and that Ofgem will be taking action to address the issue.

Spokesman Jonathan Rolande continued: “There is still a question to answer though. How, as a society do we deal with a situation where a householder has missed numerous payments and received letters and calls offering help, all to no avail?

“With heat, light and water being such basic human essentials, at what point are the companies allowed to disconnect? If allowed to continue unchallenged the lost revenue would inevitably be passed on to other paying customers – would that be fair? The providers are companies, should they carry the cost of unpaid bills alone?

“But the case in favour of the utility providers is seriously undermined by the huge profits made and massive salaries paid to executives – their pay is often counted in millions and there is no public sympathy for their cause.

“For now it is a relief that the intrusive practises of forced or tricked entry will be gone, but there are business and moral dilemmas for the companies, government and the public that will need to be addressed to ensure that the burden of unpaid bills doesn’t fall on those who are struggling but paying.”

Fuel poverty charity reveals 45 people per day die from cold homes

  • Last month, ONS releases figures showing 13,400 more deaths occurred in the winter period (December 2021 to March 2022) compared with the average of the non-winter months. 
  • Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action says that based on modelling by the World Health Organisation, cold homes caused 4,020 excess winter deaths last year in England and Wales. That’s 45 people per day in winter months. 
  • Despite the new figures being the second lowest for decades, the charity warns they only cover last winter, when energy bills were half the amount that they are now. 
  • The report coincides with the full publication of National Energy Action’s Fuel Poverty Monitor, which finds that households that have a low income and have a medical condition or use powered medical equipment at home are most at risk of the worst impacts of living in a cold home. 
  • They say these households have not been provided with adequate support during the Energy Crisis and are fearful next year’s winter mortality figures will be much worse.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has released figures showing there were 13,400 more deaths in England and Wales in the winter period (December 2021 to March 2022) compared with the average of the non-winter months.

Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action has said that up to 4,020 of these deaths were preventable and were caused by the impact of cold homes. That’s 45 people dying per day in the winter months last year – 42 in England and three in Wales. However, because of the time lag of the data, the true picture for this winter is likely to be much worse.

Last October 4.5 million UK homes were in fuel poverty, according to the charity’s figures, now – even with Government support, it’s 6.7 million UK households. The average annual bill has almost doubled in a year – from £1,271 to £2,500. The charity warns this means next year’s ONS figures are likely to be much worse.

Adam Scorer, chief executive of National Energy Action (NEA), said: “Every year we see the consequences of failing to keep the most vulnerable people safe and warm during the coldest, winter months.

“Today’s figures show a significant drop in premature winter deaths, partly because of a higher number of deaths outside winter months, but it’s still 45 people per day in the winter months. The truth is that we should not accept any death directly caused by a cold, unsafe home.

“Next year, these statistics will expose the full impact of today’s energy crisis. The toxic combination of extraordinary heating costs, stagnant or falling incomes, and our notoriously poor, unhealthy housing stock will take a heavier toll with lives blighted by debt, ill health, and worse.  

“Milder weather may not save us, or thousands of vulnerable households this winter. We must do all we can now to prevent a public health emergency and further needless deaths. Fuel poverty needs long term solutions, but this winter we need the UK Government to give more support and stop millions falling through the cracks with the most awful consequences.”

The ONS figures cover the same period as National Energy Action’s Fuel Poverty Monitor, which is released in full on Thursday 19 January. The Executive Summary was released on Tuesday 17 January.

The Fuel Poverty Monitor shows that households falling into multiple intersecting categories of vulnerability are being disproportionately affected by the Energy Crisis.

While all low-income households are feeling a significant strain during the crisis, impacts go beyond those receiving means-tested benefits, and are felt most acutely by those households that have intersecting categories of vulnerability. These households are not caught by traditional identification measures and new ways of finding vulnerable households are required.

In particular, those households that have both a low income and have a medical condition or in need of powered medical equipment at home are most at risk of the worst impacts of living in a cold home. They have not been provided with adequate support.

Previous research has consistently demonstrated the links between cold homes and health conditions, especially musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory conditions, as well as conditions related to mental ill health.

And, a recent systematic review of evidence from across the globe concluded that fuel poverty is associated with “poorer general health, poorer mental health, poorer respiratory health, more and worse controlled chronic conditions, higher mortality, higher use of health services and higher exposure to health risks, with worse results for vulnerable groups across dimensions of inequality.”

Moreover, cold homes are linked to the development and/or exacerbation of cold-related illnesses, especially in winter, and contribute directly to excess winter deaths, hospitalisations, and wider pressure on health and social care services.