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Pensioners 'break down' in tears and are 'ready to give up on life' over energy bills

(l-r) Meeting organiser Sam Rushworth, Shildon mayor Hannah Hanratty, Bishop Auckland mayor Michael Siddle, Cllr Shirley Quinn, Cllr Matt Johnson, Cllr Joanne Howey, Helen Stockton from National Energy Action and town councillor David Wilson.
(l-r) Meeting organiser Sam Rushworth, Shildon mayor Hannah Hanratty, Bishop Auckland mayor Michael Siddle, Cllr Shirley Quinn, Cllr Matt Johnson, Cllr Joanne Howey, Helen Stockton from National Energy Action and town councillor David Wilson.

An effort to prepare for winter and keep people warm amid high energy prices has united organisations in a County Durham community.

Charities, food banks, community groups and councillors from different parties came together to respond to the winter fuel crisis.

The meeting was held at Woodhouse Close Church in Bishop Auckland this week.

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Organiser Sam Rushworth said he had seen people's anxieties in his political work, and saw the need to come together as families faced being "dragged into fuel poverty".

He said: "In the last few weeks I've met pensioners who have broken down in tears on the doorstep, telling me they're ready to give up on life, that they're really frightened about the winter.

"You really see the vulnerability of people. It's not unusual to be able to see your breath in someone's house because they can't afford to heat it.

"There's a general consensus that something needs to be done that's a bit beyond any one individual, one organisation. Nobody wants people in their community to be suffering from cold this winter.

"My hope was if we can just get everyone in the same room together, we can work together to solve that problem."

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Helen Stockton from fuel poverty charity National Energy Action spoke in the meeting of fuel poverty and its far-reaching effects.

She said: "One in four households are still struggling to heat their homes, struggling to afford the energy that they need.

"More and more households - and not just those on the lowest incomes - are now being drawn into fuel poverty because energy prices are so expensive.

"The North East is particularly exposed to fuel poverty."

The Northern Echo: (l-r) Meeting organiser Sam Rushworth, Shildon mayor Hannah Hanratty, Bishop Auckland mayor Michael Siddle, Cllr Shirley Quinn, Cllr Matt Johnson, Cllr Joanne Howey, Helen Stockton from National Energy Action and Bishop Auckland town councillor David Wilson.
The Northern Echo: (l-r) Meeting organiser Sam Rushworth, Shildon mayor Hannah Hanratty, Bishop Auckland mayor Michael Siddle, Cllr Shirley Quinn, Cllr Matt Johnson, Cllr Joanne Howey, Helen Stockton from National Energy Action and Bishop Auckland town councillor David Wilson.

(l-r) Meeting organiser Sam Rushworth, Shildon mayor Hannah Hanratty, Bishop Auckland mayor Michael Siddle, Cllr Shirley Quinn, Cllr Matt Johnson, Cllr Joanne Howey, Helen Stockton from National Energy Action and Bishop Auckland town councillor David Wilson.

She said the government's price cap fix would make a difference but "£2,500 is still very unaffordable for millions of households.

"People will be making really difficult decisions this winter about how to balance demands on their household budget.

"I think there's lots that can be done at a local level," she added, encouraging easily accessible advice and support.

"I think that local knowledge will be absolutely critical because often we'll find that people won't come forward if they're struggling."

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She outlined the charity's hopes to see more financial support for households, extended periods for councils to pay rebates, fairer energy markets, investment in energy efficiency and help with debts.

Discussion in the meeting covered practical needs like water bottles, bedding, blankets, towels and clothing, as well as providing activities in "warm spaces".

Other topics included insulation, isolation, education on energy use, budgeting, funding, communications, emergency plans, sponsorship, reaching excluded people, help from councils and energy companies, and a possible petition to change the law on "morally corrupt" charges.

Cllr Joanne Howey said: "The council are looking are different ways to do what they can when they can. I know there's more coming through all the time.

"Empowering people I think is important."

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Bishop Auckland mayor Michael Siddle said there was a role for town councils: "We don't have a lot of resources but we can bring things together, because it's our area and we're connected."

Mr Rushworth said: "I think the next step is to work out what are the things we're going to try to do.

"And obviously time is really not on our side."

Cllr Shirley Quinn urged preparation for events like storms: "Make sure you've got a torch handy, make sure you've got blankets handy.

"Everybody be prepared, because none of us know what our next winter's going to hold. Prepare, prepare, prepare."

The Northern Echo: Cllr Shirley Quinn. Picture: Durham County Council.
The Northern Echo: Cllr Shirley Quinn. Picture: Durham County Council.

Cllr Shirley Quinn. Picture: Durham County Council.

She added: "We can start this conversation and start to get things in motion.

"We're going to go and badger our director of health.

"Every single one of us in this room have got networks. So let's start sharing that information with people, and don't get into the crisis situation that we all fear is going to happen.

"We can start that ball rolling now."

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