17 September 2007
Households facing fuel poverty this winter could be the beneficiaries of money raised through a new Age Concern fundraising campaign.
The charity has teamed up with beverage company innocent for the Big Knit, a campaign calling on people to knit a little woolly hat which will end up on the top of the drinks firm's smoothie bottles.
For each behatted donation sold in Sainsbury's supermarkets, the company will donate 50 pence to Age Concern to support older people throughout the winter.
This money will be used to provide advice on how to keep homes warm, blankets and hot meals.
Last year the initiative helped to raise £115,000, with over 230,000 hats sold.
Age Concern Director General, Gordon Lishman, said: "The more hats we make, the more money we raise.
"Anyone can make a hat for us and good knitters could use this opportunity to share their talents by teaching someone else how to make one."
According to figures from National Energy Action, fuel poverty in the UK now affects more than four million people across the UK, with almost 25,000 older people dying of cold-related illnesses last winter.