A Winter's Embrace - Wrap them in warmth, envelop them in mercy

This winter, millions across the UK will go to bed cold - not by choice, but because they simply can't afford to turn the heating on. Nearly half of Muslim households in the UK live in poverty, and new refugees are often housed in bare accommodation, without funds to afford the heating. For vulnerable groups, especially children and the elderly, exposure to the cold can lead to serious illness or even death. But just £25 can provide a warm winter duvet - offering essential warmth, comfort, and protection from the night’s bitter chill. Be the relief they desperately need. Wrap a family in warmth this winter.

“This is my first winter in the UK, and I do not yet have winter bedding. I am worried about managing heating costs and staying healthy in the cold weather. As the weather becomes colder, it will be very hard for me and my family to manage. My children are in need of warm blankets to protect them during the winter. If you can provide warm clothes and blankets for our children, ensuring they stay healthy and comfortable in the winter, it would reduce a lot of stress and give us more stability during the hardest months of the year. We would be very grateful for this help.”

For families living in poverty, turning on the central heating is a luxury they simply cannot afford, forcing many to survive in freezing, damp rooms. A simple portable heater is a lifeline - it provides immediate, targeted warmth exactly where it is needed most, protecting children and the elderly from the harsh cold without soaring energy bills. Your donation today will directly fund a portable heater for a vulnerable household, delivering not just warmth, but health, comfort, and dignity during the coldest months of the year.

Come Winter, countless families are forced to cut back on food or clothing in order to be able to turn the heating on for a while in their homes. For asylum seekers - surviving on just £9.98 a week - winter essentials are completely out of reach. Many are experiencing their first winter here, coming from warmer climates, and are painfully unprepared for the harsh British winter. Some arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They often lack even basic items like warm underwear, socks, or a proper coat. A £100 donation can provide warm, well-fitting clothing for one adult or child- including coats, jumpers, boots, and winter accessories - offering not just warmth, but dignity and protection. For a single mother or refugee child, this could mean the difference between constant cold and safe comfort. This winter, give the gift of warmth - and help shield someone from the bitter chill.

“I am new here and not used to the severe cold. I do not have anything to keep me warm. I need clothes for me and my family. I am not allowed to work. I'm going through very difficult financial circumstances. The current support I receive is not enough to cover our basic needs. We are in urgent need of winter clothing to protect us from the cold, as well as essential food items. I suffer from severe depression, which makes our living situation even more difficult.”

This winter, the rising cost of living means far too many families will be forced to choose between heating their homes or feeding their children. Food prices have surged by 37% in the last 5 years and 3 million families across the UK say they’re likely to cut back on food just to pay their heating bills. Refugees, surviving on as little as £9.95 a week, simply cannot afford enough to eat - and those placed in hotels often receive food that is culturally inappropriate, nutritionally inadequate, or even inedible. Across the country, 14 million people have gone without food because they couldn't afford it - including 3.8 million children. For single mothers and families of prisoners, the choice between “heat or eat” becomes a devastating daily reality. Food vouchers can bring relief and dignity to families who often struggle in silence - giving them the independence to purchase nutritious food that meets their dietary and cultural needs in a time where money is tighter than ever. For £250, you can provide a household with a voucher for enough essential groceries, ensuring no child goes to bed hungry this winter.

“This winter will be very difficult as I am expecting a baby this month and cannot afford enough food, warm clothes or other basic needs, for both of my children. A Winter support grant would help me provide warm clothes and food for my newborn and my daughter and cover basic needs for myself. It would bring real relief and make the winter easier to manage.”

This winter, millions across the UK will face the impossible choice between heating their homes or feeding their families. With energy prices rising again and no additional government support, fuel poverty has reached record levels. Over 10 million households are now living in fuel poverty, and nearly 5 million are in very deep fuel poverty - spending over 20% of their income on energy just to stay warm. For the elderly, the cold is especially dangerous: 750,000 older people are expected to go without heating or meals to survive. Families already struggling - including single mothers, prisoner families, and refugees - often live in poorly insulated homes rated EPC band D or lower, driving up costs further. About half a million families said that they are likely to take out a loan this winter in order to cover the costs of heating their home. Many have fallen behind on their bills, with over 2 million energy accounts in arrears, and more than 2.3 million households expected to avoid turning on their heating at all this winter. By contributing £400, you can help cover a vulnerable family’s gas and electricity costs for the season - sparing them from choosing between warmth and survival, and allowing them to meet their basic needs with dignity.

“Fuel bills will be very high in the winter, and we will need to buy winter clothes and winter supplies for the whole family. This will be a strain on the budget, in addition to what we suffer from as a result of the accumulated debts. Last year we were so cold that we had to share one bed for the four of us in order to stay warm through our body heat. This will be a major help to prevent us from the harsh winter and becoming sick.”

For vulnerable families, the threat of losing their home in the middle of winter is devastating. Refugees, single mothers, and families of prisoners often fall into rent arrears due to frozen accounts, limited benefits, unemployment or systemic delays. Some families have their assets confiscated or their income cut off when a loved one is imprisoned - left unable to pay rent, facing eviction with nowhere to turn. Refugees newly granted asylum may be forced to sleep rough, unable to afford the deposit and first month’s rent before Universal Credit begins. When housing is secured, it’s unfurnished, lacking basic flooring, furniture, or essential appliances. Others live in cold, damaged homes but fear asking landlords for repairs - with 29% of tenants avoiding such requests, worried about rent hikes or retaliation. A £750 Essential Shelter Package can help a struggling family pay urgent rent, secure a deposit for safe accommodation, or furnish an empty home with essentials like flooring and beds. Your support can mean the difference between warmth and cold, shelter and the streets - especially in the harshest season of the year.

“The cold weather may affect my children's health if they are not provided with appropriate heating. The house is empty of furniture. We sit on the floor and there are no beds, chairs, sofas, carpets or wardrobes. Support can help us a lot by providing them with heating means, buying winter clothes, and energy support that can also provide us with heating in the winter. It is necessary support for us and our children.”