Thousands could get free cash or energy gadgets including air-fryers and heated blankets to help with bills this winter

THOUSANDS of vulnerable households could get free cash and energy saving appliances this winter.

Gadgets such as air-fryers and heated blankets are now being given out by charities to people who are struggling with their energy bills.

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This comes as The Cadent Foundation launches a £2million Emergency Support Fund in time for the colder months.

The fund has now been distributed between its many charity partners, including Citizens Advice and Groundwork, as well as other smaller charities across the UK.

Each charity is using a slice of the funding to give out the gadgets, food vouchers and energy vouchers to help households struggling with fuel poverty.

The amount of money you can get is not specific and depends on the charity you’re talking to,.

Households can also claim heating and cooking appliances which use little energy so cost less money to run – saving them crucial cash on their monthly bill.

The boost will be available until March, and each household can receive up to two vouchers as well as the appliances they need.

The fund is specifically designed for people who are already in connection with a charity.

If you are currently seeking help it is therefore a good idea to check whether yours is benefiting from the scheme so you can too.

Once you have contacted them, they will distribute help the best they can with the following items:

• Food vouchers
• Energy vouchers
• Slow Cookers
• Air Fryers
• Self-heating mattress toppers
• Duvets
• Heated blankets
• Foot warmers
• Mini ovens
• Microwaves

Ranjit Blythe, managing director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “It’s a mistake for anyone to think that the cost of living crisis is over and we’ve seen, first hand, through all our projects, the impact of fuel poverty on the most vulnerable.

“With the recent price cap changes and removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance for many pensioners, we’re worried that those who may have just about managed last year, will now be tipped into fuel poverty.”

Those who are in touch with a charity and have recently lost their winter fuel payment could particularly benefit from the fund, so we advise they seek help where it is available.

Here’s the full list of charities handing out the latest help in each area.

North West:

• Blackpool Coastal Housing – Blackpool CH tenants
• Care Network (Blackburn and Darwen)
• Energy Project Plus (Wallasey)
• Citizens Advice (Burnley, Knowsley, Liverpool)
• Groundwork (West Lancashire, East Lancashire, Liverpool, Merseyside, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Blackburn, Blackpool and Flyde Coast, South Lakeland, Barrow-in-Furness, Greater Manchester)

West Mids:

Citizens Advice (Birmingham, Sandwell)

• Groundwork (Birmingham, Coventry, Black Country, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke, Herefordshire)
• Wrekin Housing Association (Shropshire, Staffordshire, Telford, Wrekin) – only Wrekin tenants
• Act on Energy (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire)

East Mids:

• Nottingham Energy Partnership (Nottinghamshire)
• Citizens Advice (Lincoln)
• Groundwork (Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire – Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield)

East of England:

• Citizens Advice (Norwich, Ipswich)
• Groundwork (Braintree, Colchester)

North London:

• Renewal Programme (Newham)
• Groundwork (Newham, Hounslow, Thames Valley, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Harrow, Hillingdon/Hayes, Brent, Barnet, Maidenhead, South Bucks)

What is the winter fuel payment and who is eligible?

The winter fuel payment is issued to state pensioners on certain benefits to help cover the cost of hiked up energy bills over the colder season.

Previously, the winter fuel payment was available to anyone of state pension age, which is currently 66, but this autumn the government scrapped the scheme for millions.

Now pensioners must also be in receipt of pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits to qualify for the payment.

The payment will be made automatically to eligible bank accounts in November or December, so you do not need to apply.

It is important that if you are a pensioner and struggling to heat your home this winter you still turn it on, and reach out for financial support.

Other support available for pensioners and struggling households

If you fall into debt, many suppliers have grant schemes for struggling customers who can’t afford their bills.

For example, British Gas has set aside over £140 million this winter to help both customers and non-customers through its Individuals and Families Support Fund.

There are conditions to apply, and how much you can get depends on your circumstance – so it’s worth reading over the conditions on the website.

Octopus Energy is also offering discretionary credit of between £50 and £200 to pensioners this winter.

It has also promised it will distribute 20,000 electric blankets from Dreamland to its most vulnerable customers.

You can also get in touch with your council and see what help is available through the Household Support Fund.

This government scheme operates through your constituency and can get you free grants, electric blankets and white goods replacements.

To find out what help is available, visit its website and search “Household Support Fund”.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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