warm places for the elderly to go to because they are not getting the winter fuel payment

Norah

Many Churches have warming spaces.

Yes, one of our local ones has and a supermarket provides cakes and pastries.

The problem is that although warm spaces are available, they are generally open during the day, not in the evenings, as illustrated by the OP.
It saddens me that some older people do not have family or friends to help assess their income, eligibility for help/help to get it and the most efficient way to keep warm.

I agree that all the media coverage about WFP has frightened people.

Is OP’s friend able to work out what the hourly cost of her neighbour’s heating would be? Does she use gas? Around 75% of all households in the UK do.

It depends on the wattage of the boiler. Mine is 20W. I pay 5.12p per unit so that’s just over a £1 per hour if the the boiler is burning gas all the time - which it isn’t doing once the thermostat reaches the required temperature - just firing every now and again to maintain it.

If heating the house from cold then this means that for the first hour or two, the cost of heating will be at that maximum rate as the boiler will run continually until the room reaches the required temperature.

Remember to factor in the daily standing charge and 5% VAT which we have to pay anyway whether we use any fuel or not.

This is a handy guide.

www.charltonandjenrick.co.uk/news/2024/11/do-you-know-how-much-your-heating-costs-per-hour/

NotSpaghetti

www.warmwelcome.uk/find-a-space

Here are some options.

This lady goes to a warm space all day but because she is not at home she turns her heating of to save money so by the time she gets back home late afternoon the house is freezing and she is then sitting in a very cold house , my friends husband decided to go into her house tonight to see what she has in the way of heating , the boiler is ancient and to make matters worse there is no double glazing ! my friend and her husband are a lovely couple they only moved next to the old lady a couple of weeks ago so they don't know much about her but they are very kind and I know they will help her all they can.

Charleygirl5

A man was supposed to be working in my garden today, but as it was barely above freezing, I suggested he come when it is warmer, as I do not want to be responsible for his hypothermia.

When it is in minus figures, I leave the heating on low overnight, as paying that cost would be cheaper than replacing burst pipes.

Keir and Rachel have a lot to answer for but neither cares.

They do have a lot to answer for and do not care. I feel so angry about this, not for myself but for others. Meanwhile MPs are claiming huge winter heating allowances.

Many Churches have warming spaces.

www.warmwelcome.uk/find-a-space

Here are some options.

Ilovecheese

They need to have a bit more common sense than to let themselves get so cold.

Isn't the danger with hypothermia, that if someone's sitting in the cold in one postion for a long time, they don't realise how cold they're getting and then once their body temperature starts falling, it makes them sleepy?

I don't think people conciously let themselves get cold, it's important to make sure you get up & make a drink or have a snack regularly ( or just change position) because that's when you realise you need to put the heating or a fire on.

surfingsal

Allira

Does your friend's neighbour have a timer on her boiler, surfingsal?

If so, could your friend set it for her to come on at, say, 4pm? The cost of fuel has gone down so the neighbour should be reassured that she can put thd heating on.

My friend and her husband are both going round to her house tomorrow to see whether she has a timer etc , their problem is trying to convince her not to worry about the money they have sat and talked her and she says other people she talks to in the village hall do the same as her and turn their heating of when they are out, my friend said her house was so cold they think she would have got hypothermia had she stayed the night there , she is tucked up in bed in my friends house for tonight but what about the other people who are going home to very cold houses !

Oh dear. It's sad that so many people are so worried about heating costs but help is available.

She'd be better turning down the thermostat when she goes out to keep the place just warm as it probably takes more energy to warm it up from very cold if she turns it off.

Cossy

I’m not downplaying the WFA being removed, but for balance I’m aware in the last two previous winters pensioners have struggled with heating costs, and the phrase “eating or heating” has been around for a good few years.

I would urge ALL pensions to keep their heating on 24/7 in the very cold weather, turning it right down overnight, and if they have separate thermostats on every radiator, turn them right down to 1 in the rooms not often used.

We don't have the radiator on in our bedroom and don't keep the heating on all night. I wouldn't say everyone should do the same but we don't feel cold at night.

Fleur20

Surfingsal.. can you persuade her to get a heated throw?. Yes its a big outlay but they cost pennies to run and would keep her safely warm in the evenings, even if the room temperature is low.

We have these are really toasty, and tbh we didn't pay that much for them, am imagining they will be reduced right now in the Jan sales as well. Some are really expensive but there are more affordable ones.

There were warm spaces last year.
There are food banks.

It's £4 a week.

Ilovecheese

They need to have a bit more common sense than to let themselves get so cold.

Seriously?

'Warm Banks' are places were those finding it hard to stay warm at home can go to sit during the day without feeling awkward about it. Could be a church, a community hall, library, or other public space. People can just sit there and nobody will bother them.
They were started to counter the cost of living crisis. Just google warm banks to find out where they are near you if you need a warm space during the day.

I think all the reporting about the WFA is frightening people. At the end of the day if you make monthly payments to spread the cost over the year a couple of very cold weeks won't be that much on a monthly basis. We've also had some mild weeks so that will also help.

Both our local libraries were shut in the last four years. Sold off for housing development. I feel genuinely sorry for any vulnerable people needing a warm place round here.

Libraries are warm and you can take ages to choose books or sit and read them.

Ilovecheese

They need to have a bit more common sense than to let themselves get so cold.

Very sympathetic comment, I don’t think! How harsh!

Surfingsal.. can you persuade her to get a heated throw?. Yes its a big outlay but they cost pennies to run and would keep her safely warm in the evenings, even if the room temperature is low.

Kate1949
Thanks for that useful information re Asda.
It's good they are doing that.

It's awful. It's worrying . I'm sure many will be heading to Asda for soup, a roll and limitless tea and coffee for £1 for over 60s.

It's deplorable.

Tonight is forecast to be -5. I've had my heating on all day as my grandson has been at home poorly but goodness knows what our next bill will be.

They need to have a bit more common sense than to let themselves get so cold.

Allira

Does your friend's neighbour have a timer on her boiler, surfingsal?

If so, could your friend set it for her to come on at, say, 4pm? The cost of fuel has gone down so the neighbour should be reassured that she can put thd heating on.

My friend and her husband are both going round to her house tomorrow to see whether she has a timer etc , their problem is trying to convince her not to worry about the money they have sat and talked her and she says other people she talks to in the village hall do the same as her and turn their heating of when they are out, my friend said her house was so cold they think she would have got hypothermia had she stayed the night there , she is tucked up in bed in my friends house for tonight but what about the other people who are going home to very cold houses !

I’m not downplaying the WFA being removed, but for balance I’m aware in the last two previous winters pensioners have struggled with heating costs, and the phrase “eating or heating” has been around for a good few years.

I would urge ALL pensions to keep their heating on 24/7 in the very cold weather, turning it right down overnight, and if they have separate thermostats on every radiator, turn them right down to 1 in the rooms not often used.