Plymouth MP Luke Pollard MP’s joint campaign with Plymouth Foodbank raised £2,000 for electric blankets in less than a week.
The Crowdfunder appeal urged people to ‘heat the human not the home’ and help families struggling to afford their energy bills this winter.
Luke Pollard said the overwhelming response to the fundraiser with Plymouth Foodbank had ‘shone a light’ on the severity of the cost of living crisis,
Launched one month before Christmas, the campaign aimed to purchase 100 electric blankets – also known as heated throws – which are a cheaper way to stay warm and save on energy bills. The campaign also raises awareness of the difficult choices people in Plymouth are making between turning their heating on each evening and warming up their food.
As temperatures drop and the cost of living continues to rise, almost one in four adults in the UK will not switch on the heating at all this winter, according to a recent study.
A third of Plymouth children live in poverty, and Luke said many families have told him they simply won’t be able to turn on their heating this winter.
Typical household energy prices are currently capped at £2,500 until April 2023. In last week’s Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced the cap will rise to £3,000. Rocketing interest rates and inflation are already squeezing finances for families in Plymouth.
With budgets already stretched, households across the UK are on the lookout for ways to cut down their energy usage. Typical gas central heating costs £6.76 to run over a six hour period. Electric blankets cost a mere 20p to run over the same time period.
In October, Luke urged Plymouth City Council to create ‘heat banks’ across Plymouth – warm spaces for people struggling to afford their heating.
Plymouth Foodbank will now begin the process of acquiring electric blankets to give people in need. The blankets will subsequently be distributed from Plymouth Foodbank’s base at the Oasis Project on 28 Manor Street. Luke praised donors for going the ‘extra mile’ to help keep Plymouth’s citizens warm over the winter and encouraged people to keep donating to the fundraiser, which has a new target of £4,000. Donations for the campaign will remain open until January 18.
Plymouth Foodbank has seen a marked increase in usage due to the cost of living crisis, serving 11,646 extra meals between August-November 2022, compared to the same time period in 2021.
Luke Pollard said: “With utility bills rocketing many families are turning off their heating this winter.”Thank you to everyone who has donated to support those in real need this winter. It’s incredible to raise over £2,000 in less than a week – the Janner spirit is really spectacular.
“This campaign has shone a light on the severity of the cost of living crisis. In a rich nation like Britain, we should not need fundraising campaigns to help keep people warm, but I cannot stand by and do nothing when faced with such a crisis.
“Heating the human not heating the home with these blankets and throws will help keep people in Plymouth warm over the winter. I hope people will continue to support our city’s wonderful Foodbank and other emergency food providers over the winter to keep people fed and warm.”
Maria Mills,, project manager at the Oasis Project, said:
“Plymouth Foodbank are very grateful for the support of Luke Pollard MP in this successful campaign to raise funds to buy electric blankets for Foodbank clients in need of this specific support.
“The campaign has raised enough money for us to buy heated throws which will enable people to stay safe and warm in these coming months.
“We are hoping that with the success of the campaign we will reach the stretch target of £4000 which will mean that more families or individuals will be to keep warm this Christmas.”
“In a rich country like Britain, we should not need fundraising campaigns like this, but I simply cannot stand by and do nothing when faced with such a crisis.”
