Magna Housing Association’s grand gesture over fuel poverty (From Dorset Echo)

Magna Housing Association’s grand gesture over fuel poverty

4:00pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News

A DORSET housing association has donated £1,000 to help fight fuel poverty in Dorset.

Magna Housing donated the money to the Surviving Winter Appeal run by the Dorset Community Foundation.

The money will be used to help elderly and vulnerable people during the winter months.

Donations to the appeal are used to make one-off payments to help pay fuel bills.

They also fund additional lunch clubs and social activities that bring older people together as well as warmth packs and boiler repairs.

Daisy Ilchovska, appeal manager, said: “This winter has been exceptionally cold and for older and seriously ill people it can be life-threatening.

“Last winter in Dorset over 500 vulnerable people died from preventable cold weather related deaths.

“Magna Housing’s kind donation is very much appreciated and it will go towards helping the most vulnerable in the local community.”

Magna Housing’s community development manager, Ken Bodycombe, said: ‘‘Fuel poverty is a growing concern particularly for the older generation.

“Magna is keen to help address the problem and work together with local organisations to support appeals like this that make a huge difference for Dorset residents.”

To donate to Dorset Community Foundation to helped vulnerable people visit www.dorset communityfoundation.org or telephone 01202 292255.