For some it could be fatal. Most years around 10,000 people die across the United Kingdom, simply because they are unable to keep their homes warm.

This winter looks to be even more deadly as the increase in energy costs will mean that many low-income and vulnerable householders may have to ration their energy usage which will lead to illness and misery.

National Energy Action (NEA) is the national fuel poverty charity that works across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to tackle the root causes of fuel poverty and supports those experiencing it to be able to live in a Warm and Safe Home. We have provided a media pack with resources to help you support the awareness day on social media which can be downloaded HERE. If you have trouble accessing this, please contact NEA’s Communications and Campaigns Officer at michael.potter(at)nea.org.uk.

This year, Fuel Poverty Awareness Day will focus on three areas:

Recognising that more support is needed for fuel poor households

• In our media pack, we have provided a template letter to Members of Parliament and elected officials. We’d appreciate if you can tailor this and send this to your local representatives. The letter features key asks of what we are calling on government to do in order to tackle fuel poverty.

• You could also ask for a meeting – whether in person or virtually with your local representative to ask them about what work they are doing to tackle fuel poverty in the local area. This is also a fantastic way to building relationships with them so they can help their constituents find support.

• You can find details of who your local MP is here.

Profile the assistance that is available

• NEA, along with hundreds of organisations across the UK offer support for those living in fuel poverty. This could include helping people apply for the Warm Home Discount or Priority Services Register or helping them access grants. By profiling support that is available in your local area, it will help those that will struggle most this winter be able to access the help that they need.

• Shout about any fuel poverty alleviation projects that you are running.

Explain lived experience of those living in fuel poverty

• Our media pack also contains a press release template, which you can adapt to explain what you are doing to support Fuel Poverty Awareness Day. This could include reaching out to people you have helped and getting them to tell their story as well as providing details of how they have been helped.

• The Excess Winter Death figures will be released on Tuesday 28 November so please check back as we add a document which explains these at a regional level. This will convey the needless deaths which directly result from living in a cold home which will be an extremely powerful way to get your messages out there.

Our media pack also includes:

• Infographics to explain the scale of Fuel Poverty across the UK.

• Advice leaflets from NEA which can be shared and distributed.

We need as many organisations to be active on Friday 3 December on social media. Please use the hashtags #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay and #WarmSafeHomes. If you tag NEA’s social media accounts, we will endeavour to retweet your content to get the messages out to a wider audience. NEA’s social media handles are below:

Twitter: NEA_UKCharity

Facebook: National Energy Action

Instagram: NEA_UKCharity

LinkedIn: National Energy Action

Last year’s Fuel Poverty Awareness Day reached over 3 million different social media accounts. This year, your help is needed more than ever so we can help those most in need this winter.

Thank you in advance for your support.