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.

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.