More than 5,000 Cambridge households are thought to be in fuel poverty

Lord Sainsbury and Mary Archer are among those donating their winter fuel allowance to keep some of the city’s 5,000 households living in fuel poverty warm this winter.

As maximum daytime temperatures fall to single figures, Cambridge First and Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) are urging over 60s who don’t need their winter fuel allowance to donate it to those struggling to pay their energy bills.

The winter fuel allowance - £200 for those over 60 and £300 for the over-80s – is a one off payment made to the over-60s at this time of year.

The £2.1 billion scheme is viewed as somewhat controversial as it is automatically given to everyone over 60 - regardless of their wealth and whether they are still earning.

It is argued, however, that means-tested benefits do not reach the people most in need of them.

Households spending more than 10 per cent of their income on energy bills are deemed as being in fuel poverty – the case with more than 5,000 city homes, according to figures from Cambridge City Council.

Cambridge CAB has witnessed a hike in the number of people seeking advice for fuel debt.

In the 2010-11 financial year it recorded £50,969 of debt owed to electricity companies and £35,080 owed to gas suppliers by city householders – a substantial leap from 2006-07 when the bureau recorded electricity debts of £10,658 and gas debts of £4,311.

And it is predicting a further spike in recorded debt to energy companies this winter – the time of an unprecedented rise in energy costs with Ofgem, the oil and gas regulator, reporting gas prices being 40 per cent higher than last year.

Specialist adviser at Cambridge CAB Pebble Padfield said: “We routinely see families whose income from low-pay jobs and benefits are well below what they need to live on. They constantly have to choose between food and heating.

“These are some of the hardest-working people in the country - trying to keep a family together and hold down a job when there isn’t enough money for the basics is endlessly hard.”

While Cambridge CAB offers advice to those in fuel poverty, it cannot meet the fuel debts of city householders.

The bureau instead works closely with Cambridge Central Aid to help those in need.

And following donated fuel allowances from supermarket mogul and chancellor of Cambridge University Lord Sainsbury, chairman of Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals Dr Archer, Mayor of Cambridge Cllr Ian Nimmo-Smith, Cambridge CAB chairman Nigel Brown and member of Sawston Rotary Club Ian Chamberlain, the charity is welcoming donations from others who are not reliant on the payment.

Paul Ray, Cambridge Central Aid trustee, said: “We meet twice a month at Cambridge CAB to consider applications from advice agencies who refer local people to us.

“We have no employees and virtually no running costs, so almost every penny donated is used to benefit people in need in our community. We never turn away a deserving person. The money raised from this appeal will be used to help local people who are in fuel poverty.”

Lord Sainsbury told Cambridge First: “If you feel uncomfortable about receiving your winter fuel payment and don’t rely on it then I would encourage you to donate it to others to allow them to keep warm this winter without worrying about rising fuel costs.”

Dr Archer, too, was “very happy” to help.

“Plenty of people will be glad to get their winter fuel payment, but for many over-60s it is an unnecessary bonus,” she said.

“That’s why I’m supporting this campaign from Cambridge First and the CAB.”

Mr Chamberlain said: “I welcome the opportunity to give up this allowance that I, like many others, do not really need and pass it to a family who will draw benefit from it.”

Cllr Nimmo-Smith is ex-officio president of Cambridge Central Aid during his mayoral year.

He said: “There is currently a very great need in the city.

“One of the positives of having universal benefits is that it gets to everyone in need. But on the other hand it may go to other people who have less need of it.

“At a time when personal finances are particularly stretched, it is a valuable opportunity for people to think how best the money can be spent.”

Chairman of the Cambridge CAB Nigel Brown said: “I think the paradox of Cambridge is everyone thinks of it as being a tremendously successful city because of the high-tech industry and the university. But within the area there are people who are extremely poor and greatly need the help.”

To donate your winter fuel allowance send a cheque made payable to Cambridge Central Aid to: Kate Flannery, Cambridge CAB, 66 Devonshire Road, Cambridge, CB1 2BL. If UK taxpayers provide names and address to GiftAid the donation, the charity benefits from an extra 25 per cent.