Acts 435 strives to be a light in the darkness for local communities this winter

As the clocks go back this weekend, and we see the nights draw in, we often start thinking about the colder weather, and the need to keep warm. This thought, for many, will fill them with dread as they’re unsure how to afford the cost of turning the heating on, or filling up their heating oil tanks.

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The news of rising fuel prices is worrying for everyone, with the Minister for Energy Consumers suggesting that fuel costs have risen by up to 82% since the US-Israeli war began, and many are reporting that heating oil costs have doubled in their area. However, for many these rising costs are more than a worry, and are devastating and simply unaffordable meaning that they will go without this year.

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At Acts 435 we have always resourced churches and local charities with the ability to crowdfund for the specific needs of individuals and families in their communities. Included in all the needs are those for energy, and the ability to keep warm, such as a gas meter top-up for someone with benefit sanctions, an electric blanket for someone who is suffering ill-health or carpets for an elderly couple to keep a home warmer. In 2025 we supported nearly 1,000 individuals and families with needs to keep their homes warm.

Last winter we visited a local Warm Welcome Space, which opens its doors as a space for people to keep physically warm, but also as a place where people feel welcomed and supported. The Old Fire Station in Leeds partners with Acts 435 to provide for the specific needs of those accessing their space. This meant that they were able to support Paul** who is a disabled man living by himself and relies on benefits as his only source of income.

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He was struggling to stay warm in the cold weather because heating his home was too expensive. Paul also found that the cold makes movement more and more difficult and painful, which was preventing him from being able to move and walk properly. He was using a hot water bottle and placing it around his body to stay warm, but as you can imagine, that wasn't a practical solution. The Acts 435 Advocate was able to post a request for a heated blanket to help Paul stay warm more safely.

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The increasing costs of energy will see even more individuals in Paul’s position this winter; unable to heat their homes properly, and who need an alternative solution. As a charity, Acts 435 wants to step into this gap, and enable more churches and charities to be able to support individuals with requests for energy, fuel and other means to keep themselves warm this coming winter. We’re very thankful to partner with Warm Welcome which enables support to organisations to open their doors, and provide a warm welcome for individuals. Through their network, and the rest of our 670 local partners, we hope to be a light in the darkness this winter; reminding individuals that there is hope and they are not alone even when the news tells a different story.

**name changed

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