Thank you to everyone who has supported our appeal so far, we are now close to £10,000 in donations in pledges.
The funds we raise will directly support our older and vulnerable communities in Milton Keynes this winter. 

From the funds raised to date, we have been able to award grants to Age UK Milton Keynes, The Foodbank, SSAFA Forces Help and YMCA Milton Keynes.
With these funds they will typically buy emergency food and clothing, duvets blankets, hot water bottles and means to help people the people they work with to stay warm, well fed and mobile this winter.
Left: Age UK Milton Keynes volunteers prepare to serve lunch at the Busy Bees Lunch club for older people.

Our Surviving Winter grant made to the MK YMCA this week will fund additional workers for their Emergency Night Shelter Project which is running from December to February. 
Due to the lack of emergency accommodation for homeless people in Milton Keynes last winter, and serious concerns that this year someone would die from exposure to severe cold weather on the streets this winter, MK YMCA set up the Winter Night Shelter Project.  Safe and warm overnight accommodation and food is now being provided in church buildings across the city.

The Surviving Winter Appeal will also directly support older local people.  Facing ever-increasing fuel bills and the onset of another cold winter, older people are very much at risk.  Age UK are warning that cold homes will kill up to 200 older people a day, this year.  Last winter there were an estimated 25,400 excess winter deaths amongst those aged 65 or older.  For every winter-related death there will be dozens of other people suffering with illness and hardship, many facing a difficult choice between eating and heating. 

We must do more. So we continue our plea to local over 60’s who DON'T NEED their Winter Fuel Payment to DONATE IT.  But  we are urging everyone to give to this URGENT Appeal.

The Surviving Winter Appeal is a national campaign.  It was inspired when it launched last year by people who wanted to donate their Winter Fuel Payment** from the government to support elderly and vulnerable who are less fortunate than themselves.  The campaign has attracted many high profile supporters including, Sir Terry Wogan, Sir David Jason, Rosemary Conley, and locally, we are delighted Dame Cleo Laine has donated her Winter Fuel Payment to support people here in Milton Keynes.

Cllr Debbie Brock, Vice President of MK Community Foundation
“This is a fantastic campaign that will help those in need of added assistance during the cold winter months, I whole heartedly support it & would encourage those who are able, to participate.”

If you are able to support us and you want to find out more about this campaign, please get in touch today.  You can make a direct online payment by returning to our Home page  or call us on 01908 690276 if you would prefer to send a cheque.  Thank you! Your support will make a massive difference to vulnerable local people this Winter.

  * Fuel Poverty - the inability to afford to adequately heat the home.
** The Winter Fuel Payment is a universal benefit of between £100 and £300, made to everyone aged over 60 on the electoral roll during November and December.