BCBN Grant Award Ceremony – December
BCBN was honoured to hold its 4th and final Grant Award Ceremony of 2015 on Monday 7th December in support of projects that assist the elderly during the winter months.
On average some 20,000 people die during the winter months in England and Wales, tragically it has been reported that the figure is set to reach 40,000 this year. The majority of excess winter deaths occur among those aged 60 and over, many victims are fuel poor and have no choice but to live in energy deficient houses that are expensive to heat. Combined with rising energy prices and squeezed incomes, the elderly live in temperatures below 18°C. As such they develop serious risks to their health. These excess winter deaths are associated with low temperatures, low income and health conditions like infectious, respiratory or circulatory diseases.
However research has shown that these excess winter deaths are preventable and can be reduced if the elderly could afford to adopt a few simple adjustments to make their houses more energy efficient and warmer. If treated, casualties are avoidable which means less strain and cost on the NHS and social care services. The BCBN Grant Initiative is proud to be sponsoring 3 respected charities who are actively working to address this issue.
Black Princes Trust operate community sports, health and exercise sessions for the local community. BCBN’s grant of £3000 to the community hub in Lambeth will help provide sport activities through the use of a health mentor and fitness trainer working with vulnerable and often marginalised people. Philip Bobia will provide free sport sessions and exercise classes to disabled and elderly people from the Ethelred Estate, South London.
Age UK is the country’s largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. BCBN’s grant of £3,000 will help fund Age UK’s Winter Warmth programme and support local Age UK partners to provide items such as home energy checks and packs containing warm clothing and food, helping to keep older people warm and safe this winter.
Muslim Aid, a leading British Muslim relief and development agency seeking to tackle poverty in partnership with The HEET project, formed by local residents wanting to see more community action to tackle the problems of climate change and fuel poverty. BCBN’s donation of £2,995.36 will help to reduce the impact of winter on the health of 194 vulnerable and fuel poor elderly people, in Enfield and Waltham Forest, through the installation of 388 draught excluders and 970 radiator reflectors.
There is a well know Prophetic statement that crystallises our duties towards the old and infirm, it reads:
“They are not from amongst us who do not have mercy on the young and do not honour and serve the elderly.”
– (Tirmidhi)
We hope our collective efforts play their part in comforting some of the most vulnerable in our society.
