Meeting need as winter pressures deepen

For the households we support across West Northumberland, winter pressure does not peak at Christmas, it often builds steadily and becomes hardest in January and February. These are the coldest months of the year. Energy bills have already been running high for weeks. Food budgets have been stretched by Christmas costs. Any small financial buffer people may have had is usually gone.

This is the point where coping becomes harder to sustain and where many people finally reach out for help.

Our latest impact data reflects this clearly. One in five people contacting us during the winter period were reaching out for the first time, often after managing alone for as long as possible.

Living in cold, unsafe homes

​This winter, our delivery drivers have been telling us something that is hard to ignore. When they step back outside after delivering a food parcel, the cold feels sharper inside people’s homes than it does outdoors.

We hear from households who are heating just one room to get through the day. Parents who only turn the heating on when their children are home. People who know exactly how to keep their home at 15 degrees, not because it is comfortable, but because it is the lowest temperature they believe they can manage without becoming unwell.

Guidance suggests homes below this temperature are already too cold to be safe. Living in these conditions increases the risk of respiratory illness, worsens existing health conditions, and contributes to damp and mould. All of this takes a toll on both physical and mental wellbeing.

As one person told us:

​“I was just trying to keep everything going for the children, even if that meant going without myself. I tried only having the heating on when they were at home, skipping meals, but I just couldn’t cope anymore.”

This reality goes far beyond the idea of choosing between heating and eating. For many households, neither feels fully possible.

What people are telling us

​Our helpline team speaks daily to people navigating these decisions. Many callers are not asking for everything to be fixed. They are asking for breathing space and practical help to get through the weeks ahead without things escalating further.

Our Helpline Team Leader Owain reflects on the pressures people are facing this winter.

Going into winter, 80% of people we spoke to told us they were worried about paying their gas and electricity bills. By January, that worry often turns into crisis as debts build, meters run low, and options narrow.

We also see how isolation plays a role. Around 30% of winter-related need comes from rural areas, where access to support can be more limited and heating costs are often higher. For some older residents and pensioners, winter pressure is compounded by living alone, fixed incomes, and uncertainty about what help is available.

The data provided above is for October - December 2025

Early intervention and support

Because winter pressure builds over time, our focus has been on planning early and responding proactively, rather than waiting until households reach breaking point.

This winter, funding and training linked to sustainable energy initiatives enabled our helpline team to provide personalised energy advice to 237 households. This support helps people better understand their usage, manage costs where possible, and feel more in control of their situation 

Alongside this, we continue to provide emergency food support, hardship awards, and practical assistance across more than 50 towns and villages. During the winter quarter alone, our teams delivered food parcels, fresh food, and additional support to hundreds of households experiencing rising pressure 

Crucially, this work is about more than food. It is about intervening early and supporting people before situations deteriorate further.

Winter pressure doe not end in January

While Christmas represents a visible peak in demand, it does not mark the end of winter hardship. January and February remain some of the most challenging months we see, and demand often rises again as winter continues.

This reality shapes how we plan our work, ensuring support continues well beyond the festive period and into the months when people are most likely to struggle quietly.

None of this is possible without strong local partnerships, community support, and the generosity of those who help keep our services running. As winter continues, that support remains vital.

To learn more about our work, how we are responding to rising winter pressure, and the impact this support has across West Northumberland, visit our Impact page. You can also follow our updates to stay informed about what we are seeing and how we are responding as winter continues.
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