10 January 2023 , 18:00
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When the Daily Mirror used the season of goodwill to highlight the plight of those facing winter in fuel poverty, we knew readers would answer our call to action.
And sure enough, you helped raise nearly £100,000 for our Warm Hearts Christmas appeal.
Thanks to your generosity, we have been able to pass funds on to Warm Welcome centres across the country.
The vital community spaces offer warmth and friendship to the needy in these worrying times of soaring fuel and food bills.
Every pound you have raised will go towards the cost of running these lifeline hubs and providing food, hot drinks and toys for their visitors.
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Evdoxya and Petros at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon (Humphrey Nemar/daily mirror)And your support has never been more appreciated – with an estimated 16 million people living in fuel poverty this winter. Those using Warm Welcome sites include Evdoxya Kyropoulou, who visited the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, South-West London, with nephew Petros, two.
She said: “It’s a very warm environment and it’s nice to socialise. The whole ambience is very welcoming and Petros enjoys it so much.
“It’s a very convenient solution as he doesn’t go to nursery and it’s amazing that it’s free. The [economic] situation is very uncertain so it’s nice to know this place is here.”
There are now over 5,000 Warm Welcome venues, with hosts including libraries, places of worship, community centres and small businesses.
So far, our Warm Hearts appeal has raised £95,000. This includes a £75,000 grant from the Benefact Trust to support host churches. Benefact’s Lesley King-Lewis said: “So many are understandably worried for their future and having to choose between buying food and keeping the heating on. We can’t stand by and do nothing.”
A Warm Welcome spokesman added: “We’re so grateful for the huge generosity of Mirror readers who supported the campaign.
“We’ve been so humbled by the stories of volunteers who have responded to the immense need, despite their own financial challenges. Your generosity has made sure those in need were not left out in the cold this winter. ”
Mirror editor Alison Phillips said: “Readers have once again shown their kindness and compassion. We cannot thank you enough.”