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Regional West Cumbria

Give to the Winter Warmth Appeal from Monday and your money goes twice as far Winter Warmth Appeal will double donations to help older Cumbrians heat their homes

By Kris WM, editor 3 min read From cumbriafoundation.org
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Winter Warmth Appeal will double donations to help older Cumbrians heat their homes
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Every quid you give between Monday and 20 December gets matched, up to £200,000. And if you're over 60 and struggling to heat the house, Age UK can help you apply.

This one's for older folk round here who are dreading the heating bills, their families, and anyone who's got a bit spare to give.

Cumbria Community Foundation, up at Dovenby Hall near Cockermouth, has kicked off its 2026 Winter Warmth Appeal. From Monday 9 November to Sunday 20 December every pound you give gets matched with another pound, up to £200,000. Sellafield Ltd, Nuclear Waste Services, SP Electricity North West and WCF Ltd are among the ones putting up the match money.

Last winter they handed out 1,167 grants worth £315,650 to 1,474 older people across Cumbria. Three in four lived on their own, and the oldest was 101. Age UK, who help run it, also found them more than £663,000 in benefits they hadn't been claiming.

Jenny Benson from the foundation said: "No older person should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table."

Who can get help? People aged 60 or over living in Cumbria who get a state pension or are struggling to keep the house warm. They put first anyone 80 or over, folk with health conditions, people in cold, hard-to-heat houses or on oil or solid fuel, and those with under £10,000 in savings. The usual grant is £250, or £350 if things are really tough, and it all depends on how much gets raised.

Round here you apply through Age UK North Cumbria on 01228 536673, and they'll do a free benefit check while they're at it. Want to give? Go to the Give to the Winter Warmth Fund page on Cumbria Community Foundation's website, ring 01900 825760 (Monday to Friday, 9 till 5), or post a cheque marked Winter Warmth Fund to Dovenby Hall.

From Monday 9 November to 20 December, every pound given to Cumbria Community Foundation's appeal is matched, up to £200,000. Older people struggling with heating can apply for a grant through Age UK.

This is for older people in West Cumbria who are worried about heating their homes this winter, their families, and anyone who can spare a donation.

Cumbria Community Foundation, based at Dovenby Hall near Cockermouth, has launched its 2026 Winter Warmth Appeal. Every pound donated from Monday 9 November until Sunday 20 December will be matched pound for pound, up to a total of £200,000. The match funders include Sellafield Ltd, Nuclear Waste Services, SP Electricity North West and WCF Ltd.

Last winter the fund gave 1,167 grants worth £315,650 to 1,474 older people across Cumbria. The foundation says three in four of them lived alone and the oldest was 101. Its delivery partner, Age UK, also helped applicants find more than £663,000 in unclaimed and backdated benefits.

Jenny Benson, the foundation's director of programmes and partnerships, said: "No older person should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table."

Grants are open to people aged 60 or over who live in Cumbria and receive a state pension or struggle to heat their home. Priority goes to people aged 80 and over, those with health conditions, people in hard-to-heat homes or using oil or solid fuel, and those with savings under £10,000. The normal grant is £250, or £350 in exceptional cases, and depends on enough money being raised.

In West Cumbria, people apply through Age UK North Cumbria on 01228 536673, which can also do a free benefit check. To donate, use the Give to the Winter Warmth Fund page on Cumbria Community Foundation's website, call 01900 825760 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or send a cheque marked Winter Warmth Fund to Dovenby Hall.