Raised of £125,000 target
Outside in the long harsh Winter night
Snowflakes of Mercy fall gently in flight
Each one unique, illuminating the darkness, so still
Melting the hardship, a blanket against the season's chill
For that shattered family of the prisoner taken
Winter's isolation and howling winds leave them shaken
Icy needles on the snowflakes pierce like their pain
Baba's behind bars - nothing will ever be the same again
When the asylum seeker wrestles rejection and racism in one
Each snow crystal as clear as the trauma he hasn't overcome
Struggling for safety, peace, warm clothing and regular meals
Personal dignity isn’t the only thing that this season steals
The single mother fleeing abuse at long last
Needs support to rebuild a life far distant from her past
Each snowflake a memory of the family she once held so dear
Her future frozen feels like icicles trapping in her own fear
New to this deen, met by the community's cold embrace
The icy message is that in this Ummah you have no place
The lonely revert shunned by her family and friends already
Has nobody to turn to, to keep her fragile faith steady
As snowflakes of mercy descend, so unique, so small
Let your compassion, where it's needed most, fall
Be a blanket of relief for those struggling to cope
Light up this dark season with the fire of hope
This winter, we ask you to be as generous as the snow.
Just as individual snowflakes gather to form a blanket of white, that softens the ground, your compassion can create a blanket of relief for families weighed down by hardship.
Across the UK, poverty bites harder in the cold. And it hits Muslim households the hardest.
For too many in our midst, winter doesn’t just bring cold - it turn daily struggles into crises:
Already navigating a new language and unfamiliar systems, the long winter nights reawaken their trauma - as the painful memories of what they fled, sharply resurface.
For those granted asylum, the trials do not end, as they face homelessness, or temporary ‘homes’, lacking basic furniture, appliances, and even flooring, without funds for heating. At every turn, the chill of this season grips them by the throat.
What was already difficult becomes unbearable now.
Soaring energy bills, poor insulation, and no disposable income mean thousands suffer in silence in freezing, damp homes. Cold homes, dark nights mean grief resurfaces, social isolation deepens, and mental health declines. The grief of losing a loved one so suddenly is felt all over again - sharp as frost.
This winter, don’t just watch the snowflakes fall.
Let your compassion descend where it’s needed most - closest to home.
Wrap them in warmth against the season’s chill.
National Energy Action (NEA) place approximately 10 million households in fuel poverty July 2025.
The average fuel poverty gap (i.e. the additional energy cost needed) in 2024 was £407 per household.
8.99 million households (36.3 %) had to spend more than 10% of their income (after housing costs) - with almost 5m spending more than 20% - on energy – meaning they are in "very deep fuel poverty"
More than one million households had no arrangement to repay energy debt as of April-June 2025, a record high.
14 million people went without food in the UK because they couldn't afford it, with 3.8 million of those being children. (Trussell Trust)
1.1 million electricity accounts and 927,000 gas accounts were in arrears (Ofgem, July-Sept 2025)
An estimated 2.3 million households are expected to avoid turning their heating on this winter, because they cannot afford it.
More than 14 million people in the UK were living in poverty, with 4.3 million children, and 1.9 million pensioners.
750000 elderly people have to choose between heating and eating.
📉 Nearly half of Muslim households in the UK are living in poverty — compared to 18% of the general population.
📉 Muslims are three times more likely to fall into very deep poverty, facing a level of deprivation that strips away not just comfort, but basic dignity.
Gas and electricity prices will rise by 2% for millions of households under the latest cap announced by energy regulator Ofgem.
At least 18 million homes in the UK have an EPC rating of D or below, leading to higher energy bills.
29% of tenants avoid asking for repairs, insulation or renovations because they fear rent hikes or creating tension with their landlord. Of the 30% who have asked, 13% said their landlord imposed conditions, like higher rent, while 7% said their landlord outright refused.
Warm Bedding
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. Among the hardest hit are single mothers, refugees, and families of prisoners - already living in poverty, now pushed to the brink by rising energy costs and freezing homes. 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. For just £25, your donation can provide a full winter duvet - offering essential warmth, comfort, and protection through the bitter months. Be the relief they desperately need. Wrap a family in compassion 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.”
This winter, countless families across the UK will be forced to choose between heating their homes or clothing their children. For asylum seekers - surviving on just £8.86 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. A food voucher can bring urgent relief and restore dignity - giving families the independence to purchase staple, nutritious food that meets their dietary and cultural needs. 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, 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 often unfurnished, lacking basic flooring, furniture, or even heating. 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.
As winter approaches, our situation is becoming more challenging. I am currently not working, and over the past few years, we have faced great hardship due to the war in our country. We were forced to flee our home and move between countries. We experienced a period of homelessness upon arriving in the UK, and although we now have temporary accommodation, we are still struggling to meet basic living needs. This will be our first winter together as a family in the UK. We are lacking essential household items. We are still trying to settle after years of war, displacement and hardship. The grant would ease some of our financial burden and allow us to focus on rebuilding our lives and integrating into the community.”
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.”
In the cold, dark months of winter, prison visits become even more difficult for families already facing hardship. With long journeys in freezing temperatures, shorter days, and icy roads, many simply can’t manage the trip - especially single mothers with young children or elderly parents with mobility issues. The average distance for a prison visit in the UK is a staggering 120 miles, and over 40% of prisoners are held more than 50 miles from home, making visits costly, exhausting, and often emotionally overwhelming. For families without a car, the trip becomes near impossible -remote locations, patchy public transport, and financial constraints shut the door on connection. Embrace’s Prison Visit Scheme steps in to bridge the distance. Our incredible volunteer drivers offer their time, cars, and compassion - sometimes covering hundreds of miles per journey, with mileage reimbursements averaging £190. A gift of £190 helps fund a journey of love - reuniting a child with their father, a mother with her son, or a grandparent with the only visit they’ll get this season. In winter, when isolation bites deeper, these visits mean everything. This isn’t just transport - it’s a service of the heart.
Nobody can ever know how it feels to be in our shoes…I live my life with a shattered heart for years with no end in sight…I grieve the loss of a father who’s still alive, locked away, isolated and deteriorating by the day. Alhamdulilah, it’s been such a relief… I can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed and rested after a visit. We don't realise how mentally and strenuous the visit and drive can be on us. May Allah swt elevate you in this life and the next. These are the families you bring relief to. These are the hearts you get du'as from.”
To walk with a brother to fulfil his need is more beloved to me than if I perform itikaf in this mosque in Madinah for a month. Whoever walks with his brother regarding a need until he secures it for him, then Allah Almighty will make his footing firm across the Sirat (the bridge) on the Day when the footings are shaken.”
(at-Tabarani)
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