Around £10,000 has now been raised to help less fortunate and vulnerable people with their heating costs this winter.

Every winter there are around 620 additional deaths in the county compared to the summer.

In an attempt to prevent these fatalities, Norfolk Community Foundation has been issuing fuel payments to elderly people struggling to get by.

Working in partnership with Age UK Norfolk and Norwich Foodbank since the annual Surviving Winter appeal launched in November 2017, small grants are being provided to the most vulnerable individuals who may face crisis.

Age UK Norfolk has awarded 52 grants totalling nearly £10,000 and Norwich Foodbank have been able to support 34 adults and 17 children to date through the fuel bank scheme.

One client stated; 'Thank you so much for the vouchers - I am so grateful. Having electric and food to feed the kids this week has taken a big weight off my shoulders.'

Alongside the Surviving Winter appeal, this year the Foundation launched the 'Communities that Care Stay Well this Winter fund' in partnership with Vattenfall and Norfolk County Council's 'Stay Well This Winter' campaign.

Offering grants of up to £3,000, the fund has supported 18 Norfolk based community projects led by those groups in the heart of communities, facing very real challenges as the weather gets colder including; the frail elderly, disabled, people with chronic medical conditions, homeless and families and children living in disadvantaged households.

The projects supported have included activities ranging from; North Norfolk Community Transport running additional festive trips for those isolated at what can be a very lonely time of the year, Solo Housing (East Anglia) Ltd providing a 'top up' payment so that vulnerable residents can pay for electricity during the winter months and Purfleet Trust running a winter night shelter from November 2017 to March 2018 for those who would otherwise have no place to sleep.

There is still time to donate to the Surviving Winter appeal and support those managing fuel and food costs on low budgets. Money raised will support the critical work that Age UK and Norwich Foodbank are undertaking, ensuring people get through the winter months safely.