If you are able, please Share Your Warmth this winter.

If you are able, please Share Your Warmth this winter. Sir Muir Gray CBE MD is championing ‘Share Your Warmth’, Age UK Oxfordshire’s campaign asking for those who are able, to donate their Winter Fuel Payment to help the charity to support the most isolated and lonely older people in Oxfordshire to keep moving and well this winter.

If you’re 66 or over, you will receive a Winter Fuel Payment from the government this winter. This annual, tax-free payment of between £250 and £600 is not means-tested and so is paid to everyone over 66 to help with the cost of heating during the colder months, regardless of your financial situation.

Sir Muir says, “Many people, like me, will not need the Winter Fuel Payment they receive to keep their dwelling warm so I’m asking those people to think “I wonder if there is someone who needs this more than me?”, and if the answer is yes, to send the sum they have received to Age UK Oxfordshire, as I have done again this year.” Age UK Oxfordshire’s ‘Share Your Warmth’ campaign will use these donations to support the most isolated and lonely older people in Oxfordshire to keep moving and well this winter.

The risk factors for older people all get worse in winter, depression, isolation, loneliness and inactivity; and with that inactivity comes cold.

Donations will help local older people cope better this winter by providing them with friendly motivational regular conversations with volunteers. Conversations in which trained volunteers can help reduce loneliness and guide people through exercises that they can do at home. These conversations will help people cope better with winter by increasing their emotional, cognitive and physical activity; and becoming fitter and more active will help people respond better to changes in environmental temperature.

£2.50 would pay for a friendly and motivational conversation for an older person who’s feeling lonely and isolated

£250 would pay for 100 conversations

Are you wondering what to do with your Winter Fuel Allowance? Age UK Oxfordshire is experiencing unprecedented need this winter with a waiting list of older people who have been referred for this type of support - please help them spread the warmth.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/warmth or by sending a cheque to Age UK Oxfordshire, 9 Napier Court, Barton Lane, Abingdon, OX14 3YT. For more information please call 0345 450 1276.

ENDS

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Editor’s notes

About Age UK Oxfordshire Age UK Oxfordshire is an independent local charity supporting over 30,000 older people per year in Oxfordshire to maintain their independence and live life to the full. We focus most resource on tackling inequality and reaching older people who face a struggle, whether through low income, poor health or isolation and loneliness

Our services include local information, advice and support, practical assistance, and social, creative and physical activities. We also campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. We work with our national partner, Age UK, and our local Age UK partners in England.

You can find further information on all our services and volunteering opportunities by telephoning 0345 450 1276 or by visiting our website: www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire

Age UK Oxfordshire is a charitable company limited by guarantee (registered charity number 1091529 and company number 4328143). For all media enquiries please contact Emma Duckett on 07799 051682 or email media@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk.