Local Care and Repair staff have joined in a national knitting effort to raise money and awareness over fuel poverty in Wales.
The campaign – spearheaded by Care and Repair Cymru – is in response to the increasing number of older men and women who are suffering from cold-related illnesses over winter; last year there were over 1,000 excess winter deaths in Wales.
Donations raised from the ‘Knit Together’ sponsored event will develop a ‘Winter Warmth Hardship Fund’, with a goal of £50,000.
All the money raised will be used to directly aid older people struggling to afford their heating bills or needing a new boiler, as well as pay for other necessary repairs in their homes.
Chief Executive of Care and Repair Cymru, Chris Jones, says: “Our Crisis Fund has previously distributed payments to 294 elderly house holders in Wales.
The majority of work carried out has been the installation of replacement boilers. Although the fund has helped a lot of older people it is only able to cover 50 per cent of the costs.
With a growing older population the demand and need for support outstrips what we are able to provide. Our Winter Warmth Hardship Fund will complement the crisis payments to ensure more people are helped.”
Staff from Care and Repair in Powys are using their spare time productively to knit scarfs for the campaign and then take #Scarfie photos for social media to raise awareness.
Using sponsorship as their motivation, some knitting first-timers are discovering their talent for the hobby, while others are hoping to finish work they started a few years ago.
If you’d like to join in the knitting and support Care and Repair, all you need to do is find people willing to sponsor you for your work, and contact Sheleagh.Llewellyn@careandrepair.org.uk, visit www.careandrepair.org.uk/lets-all-knit-together or call Care and Repair Cymru on 02920 674841. Remember that 100% of money raised will go directly to helping those in need.
If anyone is worried about elderly relatives or neighbours who are struggling to heat their homes, they are encouraged to call Care and Repair on 0300 111 3333.
