This winter, thousands of people will be living in homes that are cold, damp, and dangerous for their health. The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has been tackling cold homes and fuel poverty for over 45 winters, making us a vital and trusted lifeline for people struggling to heat their homes.

Energy bills are 42% higher than 2021, and damp homes are making thousands seriously ill. Each winter, the NHS in England spends an estimated £1.4bn a year treating people with health issues related to cold, damp or mould.

CSE’s work is needed now more than ever. Through our Share the Warmth campaign, we want to reach more people to tackle damp, mould and cold where it matters most: at home.

How we help – from a phone call to home visits

Every caller has a story – the room that won’t stay warm, the damp patch on the wall they’ve ignored, the heating bill they can’t afford or the persistent cough they can’t shake off. What they often don’t realise is how these problems connect. We get to the root cause, uncovering the hidden health risks of fuel poverty.

Last year, we supported 22,593 people through our advice line, which quickly unlocks a network of support. Our expert advisors listen, ask the right questions, and arrange home visits when needed. That’s when the full picture emerges. Damp creeps silently into bedrooms, settles deep into walls, hides behind furniture. Many people feel ashamed of their home’s condition and suffer in silence.

Only during a home visit is the true extent revealed – and we can act. Whether that’s providing an additional heater, fixing a boiler, helping access home insulation grants or organising emergency support for food and heating costs, we connect people to long-term solutions through our network of specialist partners.

Cold, damp and mould are making people sick

With 2 million people living in homes with significant damp and mould, our help has never been needed more. While damp and mould affect everyone, the impact isn’t equal. The presence of damp and mould can cause or exacerbate health conditions, such as asthma, chronic illnesses and COPD. Children, older people, and those with existing conditions are most at risk.

Janine Michael, Chief Executive of the Centre for Sustainable Energy said:

Damp and mould is a silent killer… UK homes are not sufficiently insulated, people can’t afford to heat them, and they keep windows shut to keep the cold out – creating a vicious cycle where damp and mould spreads…

Our advisors don’t just give advice over the phone – we arrange home visits, provide emergency heaters, and enable long-term solutions such as grants for insulation and heating upgrades. Last year we saved people on average more than £1,100 per household. But we can only continue this vital work with public support. Please help us share the warmth this winter by donating whatever you can to our appeal or sharing the news on social media.

To remove damp and mould you need two things – heat and ventilation. During winter, damp and mould can quickly build if heating is off and windows are shut – a necessity to keep out further cold. Too often we speak to people stuck in this vicious cycle, people who can’t afford to heat their home and who are desperately trying to keep warm, which in turn causes damp and mould to spread.

Every winter, our health service struggles to manage the symptoms caused by damp and mould. This year, we need your help to fight the root cause. Illnesses due to cold homes are preventable – especially with early intervention and the right support.