Grants, schemes and benefits to help heat your home

Children are being affected by fuel poverty and national charity Turn2us confirms this with their latest research.

According to their findings, 78 per cent of families on low incomes struggle to pay their energy bills.

A result of this is cold homes and children unable to keep on top of school work. Cuts are having to be made in other areas of family life, including reducing the amount of food on the weekly shop.

While the UK is currently experiencing ice, sleet and snow, 59 per cent of families are forced to reduce the temperature of their house and 43 per cent are suffering from illness as a result.

The charity is running a Cut out the Cold campaign to raise awareness of financial help available to families struggling with fuel bills.

Seven out of ten families are not aware of the Warm Home Discount and 45 per cent are not checking their eligibility for benefits.

Director of Turn2us, Alison Taylor said: “More people than ever before are worried about finding the money to pay for their energy bills. People have no option but to cut back on essentials and borrow money. It’s alarming that for the first time in a decade, over one million families are struggling in fuel poverty, and at the same time the poorest fifth of households have seen the amount they spend on energy leap up. With cold homes affecting children’s health and even their attainment at school, they risk being caught in a cycle of poverty as they grow up.

For more information, visit: www.CutouttheCold.com