THE elderly and people living in vulnerable situations are being given extra support to stay warm and well during the winter months thanks to a charity.

The Cadent Foundation has granted £40,000 to Groundwork, to create 2700 winter warmer packs for those most in need.

The packs will be distributed via local food banks and community hubs in towns and cities across the UK, including Barrow and South Lakeland.

Each pack contains a range of items to help people keep warm this winter such as socks, gloves, hat, scarf, hot water bottle, blanket, thermal flask mug and energy saving lightbulbs.

Graham Duxbury, national chief executive of Groundwork, said: “Around four million people in the UK are in fuel poverty, unable to afford to live in a warm, dry home. During the cold winter months, people are expected to use 30 per cent more energy on average than they normally would. With more people at home, increased utility costs and unemployment rising due to the financial impact of the pandemic, more families will be experiencing extreme financial hardship as well as the emotional strain of keeping themselves and their loved ones well."

The Cadent Foundation is funded by gas network Cadent, and has been established to support projects that help people living in vulnerable situations and energy poor communities.