On Friday 7^th February 2014 Houghton and Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson teamed up with Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, and Julie Elliott, MP for Sunderland Central, to support Age UK’s Bobble Day.

Bobble Day is part of Age UK’s ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign to help keep older people warm and well during the winter.

According to Age UK, as many as 24,000 elderly people may not survive the cold weather this winter, which amounts to 200 deaths a day that could be preventable.

Age UK helps elderly people with winter benefit checks and handyperson services. It also provides them with hot nutritious meals at local lunch clubs, as well as home visits and friendly telephone calls through befriending services for those who may feel isolated.

Speaking alongside her parliamentary colleagues, Bridget said:

“Raising awareness of the plight facing pensioners during the cold winter months is absolutely crucial.

“As Age UK have shown, many deaths are preventable if older people receive regular care and are given support to stay warm. With rising energy bills squeezing household budgets across the country the problem is becoming even more acute.

“I commend Age UK and the local businesses supporting their Spread the Warmth campaign for the work they are doing to help out some of the most vulnerable in our community.”