Charity appeal for oil-filled radiators

The charity are appealing for oil-filled radiators, which cost around 16p an hour to run

A charity has issued an appeal for oil-filled radiators for vulnerable residents this winter.

The Big League CIC intends to give the radiators to Hartlepool residents who are likely to struggle to pay their heating bills over the winter.

It follows the decision by the government to scrap winter fuel payments for pensioners not receiving pension credit or other means-tested support.

The Poolie Time Exchange, the charity's shop on Victoria Road, has committed to buy 50 radiators, with the charity asking for more radiators to be donated by the community.

Shop manager Ian Cawley said the response from the community had been exceptional

Ian Cawley, manager of The Big League CIC and Poolie Time Exchange, said the charity wants to broaden the scope of its support for the community over the coming winter period.

Over the past couple of years, the charity has opened its centres as warm hubs.

"One of the things that we were picking up, is that people are going home to cold houses - and obviously the cost of fuel and energy have gone up over the last few years," said Mr Cawley.

He thinks there may be an increase in people attending their warm hubs this year, due to the changes to winter fuel payments.

Poolie Time Exchange - the charity's shop, selling pre-loved or surplus clothes, household goods, furniture and white goods - became a warm hub three years ago, offering hot meals and drinks to those in need.

The shop, on the ground floor of the charity's headquarters in Bovis House, has since provided more than 35,000 food parcels across the town.

Mr Cawley described the situation as "shameful",

"It's shameful for a country this rich, for us to be in this situation. I've never known anything like it in my life."

The charity, which aims to ensure "those in crisis have somewhere to turn", has launched the appeal for oil-radiators to help those either returning to, or confined to, a cold home this winter.

Donations, including second-hand radiators, are welcome - with assurances by the charity that all electrical equipment will be PAT-tested to make sure it is safe.

The radiators will then be delivered to those in need.

Mr Cawley is hoping public donations will match the 50 radiators the charity intends to purchase, and urged anyone who needed help to contact them.