'Heat or eat? Some people struggle to do both'

A charity set up in 2005 to help residents access support says it cannot believe its latest project is to help keep people warm.

The Shores Centre in Withernsea, East Yorkshire, has handed out winter packs, which included heated gilets, to those struggling with the cost of living.

Chief executive Jayne Nendick said: "We are hearing statements about heat or eat. People are struggling on both. We are not just providing warm stuff but also food. This is not right, not in 2025."

Angela Simpkin, 74, who sold her house and moved into a chalet to keep on top of rising utility bills, said: "Sometimes I pray that no-one comes knocking on my door because I don't want to open it and let the cold in."

Ms Simpkin, who qualifies for winter fuel payments, was among the first 20 people to receive a pack and said she constantly had to check her energy usage to make sure she did not go over what she could afford.

She added: "I try not to go over £10 for a full day. That's £70 for a week and £280 for a month. That is a lot out of an old age pensioner's money.

"I don't like to go over the £5 by lunchtime, so I just layer up, put cardigans over jumpers just to try to keep warm.

"The gilet means everything because it means I can turn my radiators off for a while because I do sit and knit and when you are sat for a while you do get cold."

The first batch of 20 warm packs were paid for courtesy of East Riding Council's household support fund and Ms Nendick said they have already ordered a further 20.

"We purchased heated gilets and thermal wear to ensure that individuals can keep warm without having to turn up the heating too much in their own home. It costs less than a penny an hour to charge these up and it can keep them warm all day."

She said the number of people turning to charities and organisations like themselves continues to rise.

"Often we hear the people struggling are those in receipt of benefits, but those who are just over the threshold in relation to the pension credit, they are struggling so much," she added.

"We are celebrating 20 years this year and I never thought when I started this back in 2005 I would be here in 2025 having to pack thermal wear, long johns, hats, scarves, gloves and heated gilets to ensure people can survive.

"Our electric bill in this centre is £1,700 a month, where a few years ago that would have been £500. We are all being hit hard."

Gas and electricity bills went up again on 1 January, when the latest energy price cap came into effect.

Gas prices have been capped at 6.34p per kilowatt hour (kWh) and electricity at 24.86 per kWh up to 31 March.

This means the annual bill for a dual-fuel direct debit household using a typical amount of energy will go up to £1,738 per year, an increase of £21 from the previous cap.

On top of the rise in fuel bills, the current cold snap sweeping the UK means the warm packs have been a huge help to those who have needed them.

"When I got up this morning it was reading 7 degrees in my house," said Janet Medforth, 67, from Withernsea.

"Gas and electric is very expensive. I put the heating on when I am in the house but never leave it on all the time.

"I am on a pension, so I have to be careful with my money."

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