Businesses in Cumbria are coming together to support vulnerable older people in the community through the annual Winter Warmth Appeal, organized by the Cumbria Community Foundation. The campaign, which aims to raise £500,000, provides essential assistance to older individuals who are faced with the difficult choice between heating their homes and affording food during the colder months.
Thanks to the generosity of the Foundation’s “match fund champions,” all donations to the appeal will be doubled until December 13. This means that every pound donated by the public will have twice the impact. Today, on Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving, the Cumbria Community Foundation would like to express their gratitude to all those who have already contributed to the Winter Warmth Appeal.
Dr Jenny Benson, Director of Programmes & Partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation, stated, “We know this winter is going to be incredibly hard for many older vulnerable members of our community who cannot afford to heat their homes adequately. This year, our appeal is more vital than ever before and I would urge anyone who is able to give to do so today.”
Several businesses have already pledged their support to the appeal, including the Keswick Alhambra cinema, who will be donating the proceeds from their Christmas Day showings and collecting donations throughout December. Jonathan Moore and Graham King, co-owners of the cinema, explained their decision to support the Winter Warmth Appeal, stating, “We choose to support the Winter Warmth Appeal because it is an obvious fit with our objectives in opening the cinema – it is predominantly the older population we see on Christmas Day and some of them tell us they wouldn’t have seen another person, if they had not come out to the cinema.”
Sellafield Ltd has also committed to donating to the Winter Warmth Appeal for the next three years. Eirini Etoimou, Head of Corporate Sustainability & Supply Chain Development at Sellafield Ltd, shared, “Supporting those most vulnerable in our communities is at the heart of our social impact programme which is why we have chosen to support the Winter Warmth Appeal again this year.”
Other businesses contributing to the appeal include Ecological Building Systems, Atkins Realis, James Walker, and Center Parcs. Lorna Graham, Deputy General Manager of Ecological Building Systems, expressed their company’s pride in supporting the Winter Warmth Appeal, stating, “As a supplier of sustainable building products backed-up with full technical support for low energy retrofit and new build projects, we’re passionate about supporting the local community to stay safe and warm, especially this winter.”
Individuals, families, and community groups are also encouraged to donate to the appeal, with every contribution making a difference. All donations received by December 13 will be matched pound for pound, thanks to the generosity of the Foundation’s “match fund champions.”
Last year, the Winter Warmth Appeal distributed over £315,000 in grants to 1,941 vulnerable older people through their delivery partners, Age UK and Copeland Age & Advice Service. Donations can be made online, by phone, or by cheque. For more information on how to donate, visit https://cumbriafoundation.enthuse.com/cf/cumbria-winter-warmth-appeal-2024.
