Small Acts of Kindness Impact Report 2024 - Report - Page 9
Alleviating the negative impact of the rise in cost of living
For older people, being able to adequately heat their home is becoming increasingly difficult, and for some impossible, with
the rise in cost of living as well as the changes to criteria for those receiving the Winter Fuel Payment, as can be evidenced by
the data from our feedback. It is clear that our Warm in Winter gift bags are making a significant difference to the thousands
of people we reach.
Once again, we are extremely grateful to our friends and partners at Ipsos UK, who have kindly donated their time to
support the data collection and analysis of feedback received from our gift bag recipients. Their expertise is invaluable in
giving us the means to amplify the voices of our recipients and reflect the meaningful and powerful impact our work has.
Every gift bag we distribute contains a feedback card. It is vital for us to better understand the people we are trying to reach,
so that we can meet their needs, providing appropriate support.
Alongside our aim to reduce loneliness and isolation, we work to help older people who are struggling to keep warm in their
homes, with our largest project Warm in Winter gift bags. Every gift bag contains practical items and information to help heat
the person, when they can’t afford to heat their home. It acts as a prevention to the serious health issues that older people
are at risk of when they are cold; high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and falls. In addition, there is the negative impact
that feeling cold has on their mental wellbeing, including depression and anxiety. There are many reasons why an older person
might be cold. Mobility, health, medication, bad home insulation and, of course, the weather, are all factors.
We asked - ‘In which areas has the increase in cost of living affected you?’
76% of respondents answered heating
64% of respondents answered food
65% of respondents said they sometimes/frequently feel cold in their home
Comments from recipients include:
“ It was just a lovely surprise after the worry of losing our fuel allowance. My husband died before he reached
retirement age so the small pension, I get from his firm plus my state pension takes me just over the limit .”
“Supported for the cold months with warm accessories and soup, tea and coffee drinks.
Thermometer helps to maintain temperature in another room in the house.”
“All of it . But especially the socks and throw. As turned my heating
down as I don’t have winter fuel allowance.”
“ I had been considering some kind of head gear for wearing
at night now my bedroom is no longer heated.”
“All the contents are gratefully received and all will be used - all things to help us to
get through this cold spell. We are going to have to keep heating costs down now!”
“These bags have been very welcomed, especially by our elderly patients who struggle
to keep warm, especially in the current climate of high fuel costs and low income.”
Data was gathered by Ipsos via paper questionnaire from October 2024 through to December 2024. Response to the feedback form was optional for respondents,
who were provided a paper questionnaire and postage paid envelope to return their questionnaire. Respondents were not required to answer all questions, and were
provided the option to opt out of their data being included in the analysis, so base sizes vary. A total of 546 returned their questionnaire and answered at least 1
question to be included in this data set, however 50 indicated the desire to opt out of inclusion in the analysis, so are excluded.
Page 6
