Frozen Homes Sculpture Exposes UK's Deepening Fuel Poverty Crisis
A powerful ice sculpture depicting classic British terraced homes has been unveiled in London, creating a stark visual representation of the millions struggling with fuel poverty across the UK. The three-metre wide installation appeared at Borough Yards, designed to symbolise households left frozen by soaring energy costs.
The chilling artwork forms part of a campaign by Skipton Building Society, Age UK and National Energy Action to highlight how many families face impossible choices between heating and other essentials this winter, despite recent energy price cap adjustments.
Health Impacts: The Human Cost of Cold Homes
Sylvia Stoianova, programme director from the University of Bristol's National Child Mortality Database, emphasised the severe health consequences of cold housing. "We're seeing growing inequalities in people's ability to heat their homes", she stated, noting that both elderly residents and young children face dangerous living conditions.
Research reveals cold homes contribute to serious health issues in children, including low birthweight, preterm birth, developmental delays and increased hospital admissions. Disturbingly, more than one in five child deaths could potentially be avoided if deprivation-related factors were properly addressed.
"Lack of heating can lead to damp and mould, triggering respiratory problems and worsening asthma outcomes", Stoianova explained. "Evidence from child death reviews shows these environmental factors have directly contributed to children's ill health and, in some cases, their deaths."
On average, one child dies from asthma every month in England, with fuel poverty forcing families into heartbreaking decisions between warmth and basic necessities.
Older Generation's Winter of Worry
A survey of 1,500 adults aged 65 and over revealed deep concerns about the coming winter. 42 percent expressed significant worry about the winter months, with heating costs and energy bills topping their concerns at 86 percent.
The overall cost of living (76 percent) and inadequate home heating (58 percent) ranked as other major anxieties. More than half (56 percent) expect energy costs to place substantial pressure on their finances, while 41 percent feel this pressure has intensified compared to last year.
Older generations anticipate spending more time indoors during colder months, with 52 percent expecting to go consecutive days without leaving home simply because it's too cold outdoors.
Campaign Demands Urgent Action
Michaela Wright, group head of sustainability at Skipton Building Society, stated: "No one should have to choose between staying warm and affording life's essentials. Yet our research shows this is the reality for far too many people."
The building society is encouraging donations both online and across its branch network, with Age UK and National Energy Action receiving a combined £50,000 as part of the campaign alongside a portion of Skipton's profits.
Adam Scorer, chief executive of National Energy Action, highlighted that energy bills remain approximately £500 higher than pre-crisis levels for typical households despite recent price cap announcements.
Paul Farmer, CEO at Age UK, revealed approximately 1.1 million households with residents aged 60 or over live in fuel poverty, describing the situation as "a crisis hiding in plain sight."
The research also found that 74 percent fear energy bills will continue rising in coming years, while the same proportion wants more government support to help older people heat their homes. Alarmingly, 63 percent remain unaware of any formal support available to help them through winter.
To combat the cold, 70 percent of respondents plan to wear extra layers, 45 percent will use blankets or hot water bottles, 30 percent intend to go to bed earlier, and 23 percent will confine themselves to single heated rooms.
