A CAMPAIGN to keep elderly people warm in the winter months has broken all records by raising £100,000.

Dorset Community Foundation’s annual Surviving Winter campaign was launched ten years ago in response to the number of deaths among older people caused by fuel poverty.

An average of 730 die each year in Dorset due to cold-related illness.

Foundation chief executive Grant Robson said the success of the campaign has been down to the generosity of the people of the county.

She added: “Each year Dorset people step up to support this campaign but this year we have seen an extraordinary response and we are so thankful,” he said.

“We know from our partners at Citizens Advice that people are finding it harder than ever to heat their homes because of the economic fallout from Covid and the fact they have to stay at home more.

“I’d like to thank all of the people who donated their government Winter Fuel Payment as well as the trusts, companies and long-standing supporters who have shown such compassion.”

The campaign, which has raised more than £250,000 and helped thousands of people over the last decade, is run in partnership with Citizens Advice Purbeck.

Grants of £200 are provided to people over 60 in fuel poverty or to those over 50 who have significant health conditions, are on the highest level of benefits or have little current chance of improving their life circumstances.

Project manager at Citizens Advice Purbeck Kate Pryce said the pandemic has had a drastic effect on fuel bills. “The energy costs for everybody has escalated because people are at home so much longer,” she said.

“Normally people would go out at least part of the day, even if it is a visit to the local library, to go somewhere and be busy instead of being cold at home. But now they are not able to do that because everything has had to shut down.”

So far the CAB has awarded 136 Surviving Winter grants and expects to be busy all through the winter.

Ms Pryce said people don’t often admit to struggling with heating bills but it is identified when they come to the CAB about other issues.

“Our advisors will ask them what their thermostat is set to and when the answer comes back ’15 because I can’t afford it to be any higher’ it puts it into perspective how people are struggling to get by.

“People are also telling us that they are making a choice between paying their fuel bills and eating properly. They tell us ‘you can’t have both’.

The Surviving Winter campaign is running until the end of March.

Visit dorsetcommunityfoundation.org, or contact Citizens Advice at purbeckadvice.org.uk