Five Wandsworth charities have given stark warnings about the impact of high energy costs on low income houses this winter.

One local mother told Wandsworth Foodbank: "You have to choose between heating or eating."

The charities are Citizen Advice Wandsworth, Katherine Low Settlement, Little Village, South West London Law Centres, Wandsworth Carers' Centre and Wandsworth Foodbank.

Wandsworth Foodbank said: "We're deeply concerned that vital fuel support payments, part of Wandsworth Council's £2 million Household Support Fund announced by central government last September, and announced by the council in November 2021, have so far not been accessible to thousands of eligible low income residents."

The charity has reported that they have received anxious calls from residents who have been told they are eligible for this vital help but have not been able to access it.

At the start of January residents received a letter from Wandsworth Council inviting them to claim their Fuel Support Payment by phone or online but until January, 21 the 0800 number did not work and many reported being unable to apply online due to requirements like uploading utility bills they did not have or the digitals skills to do so.

The cry from the charities is urgent as there is only 10 weeks left before any of the unspent £2 million Household Support Fund will go back to central government on April, 1.

Pressure is being put on the council to ensure the money goes into the pockets of local people in most need now.

Wandsworth Foodbank said: "As charities together, we're urging Wandsworth Council to urgently improve and accelerate its delivery of these desperately-needed Fuel Support Payments – including letting people know that the 0800 number is finally working, so they can try again; simplifying the online process; and speeding up actually getting the payment to residents once they have applied."

Cllr for Queenstown Battersea, Maurice Mcleod wrote on Twitter: "Five Wandsworth Charities have made the rare step of putting out a joint warning about the number of people facing a bleak winter in our borough.

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