RUNCORN, England — With winter months drawing near and temperatures creeping lower the cost to maintain a warm home can be enough to cripple a family's financial plan. Double-digit increases in energy costs combined with already tight family budgets may force the realities of fuel poverty upon many across the United Kingdom. The elderly are the most at risk when unable to afford home heating costs with thousands perishing each winter due to living in cold, damp conditions.

"Each year fuel poverty drives families deeper into debt and threatens the lives of individuals in the United Kingdom," said Steve Rhode, chairman of Myvesta UK, a not-for-profit money management organisation. "People are living in unsafe conditions because they don't have the means to pay their bills. Combine the costs of energy with already high debt loads and one's own home can turn into a hopeless place to live, when it should be a warm, safe environment."

Even though thousands suffer from the effects of fuel poverty each year, Mr Rhode said that many of the people affected never reach out for help even though they are eligible for assistance.

"People often think nothing can be done about their situation so they try to live through the cold seasons until the weather warms up," he said. "At Myvesta we offer services to reduce home utility bills by researching lower costs for gas and electricity. We also connect individuals with programmes that offer significant financial grants toward installing new home heating systems as well as cavity and loft insulation. Quite a few people are literally having their money escape through the walls of their homes and are putting their families at risk by not reaching out for help to improve their home's energy efficiency."

Myvesta can examine methods to reduce energy costs and research grant opportunities by calling their Freephone at 0800 1116 885.