Together Through Winter: How Neighbours and Communities Can Help Each Other Stay Warm

Winter in Scotland can be tough, and with energy costs remaining high, keeping warm continues to be a real challenge for many households. But here's something that often gets overlooked, we don't have to face the cold alone. Our community has tremendous power to help each other through difficult times, and sometimes the simplest gestures make the biggest difference.

The reality we're facing in South Lanarkshire

In South Lanarkshire, around one in four households are experiencing fuel poverty, with 22% of local authority households affected. For those in private rented accommodation, that figure climbs to 35%. What's more concerning is extreme fuel poverty, where 20% of private sector households and 9% local authority households simply can't afford to adequately heat their homes.

Overall in Scotland, heating and hot water make up over half of a typical household’s energy bill with rising energy prices hitting hardest those with less money or poorly insulated homes.

This impact of rising energy costs hit particularly hard in January 2025 when prices increased by 1.2%. That might sound like a small amount, but for households already struggling, it's the difference between heating or eating.

Moreover, these aren't just numbers, they're our neighbours, the elderly couple down the street, the single parent upstairs, the young family next door.

There are ways though, that we can really help each other through the cold.

Simple ways communities can help to keep each other warm

The beauty of helping each other and community support is that it doesn't require grand gestures. Sometimes the most effective help comes from everyday small acts of kindness.

• Check in regularly

A simple knock on the door or phone call to older or vulnerable neighbours can be lifesaving. If someone hasn't been seen for a few days, or if their curtains remain closed, it's worth checking they're okay. People struggling with heating costs often feel embarrassed and won't ask for help.

• Share contacts

Many people don't realise what support is available.

• Hamilton Citizens Advice Bureau offers free, non-judgemental and impartial advice on many issues including energy, money and housing, to help address energy issues and maximise income.

• Home Energy Scotland provides expert guidance on reducing bills and accessing grants, their helpline is completely free, offering information on how to stay warm.

• There are also several warm space venues in our area.

If you've navigated these services, help someone else do the same. Communities often know best how to reach those who might not hear of these supports. A neighbour encouraging someone to reach out for help, can literally bring warmth into someone’s home.

• Share tips

  • Sealing gaps in windows, doors, and chimneys and using simple draught excluders or even rolled-up towels help, offer cheap ways to stay warm.

    
    

  • Opening curtains when the sun is in, and closing them when it sets.

    
    

  • Keeping rooms you use warm, rather than whole house.

    
    

  • Lowering the thermostat by 1°C can reduce costs by cutting usage by up to 10 %.

• Invite people in

If you're home during the day with the heating on, inviting a neighbour round for a cup of tea gives them somewhere warm to spend a few hours. It sounds simple, but for someone rationing their heating, this can make a real difference.

• Organise practical help

Could you coordinate draught-proofing sessions where neighbours help each other seal windows and doors, sharing skills on how to keep warm? What about a community tool library for items like thermal curtains or electric blankets that people could borrow? These grassroots solutions don't cost much but deliver real warmth.

The power of community this winter

Evidence from across Scotland shows that community-led initiatives make a real difference. The key is removing stigma and making support accessible. When communities normalise gathering in warm spaces and reaching out for support, whether it's a church hall offering soup and company, neighbours simply checking in, or being encouraged to contact a local advice centre, people feel less isolated and more able to seek help.

So, if you're reading this and thinking about what you can do, start small. Identify one or two vulnerable neighbours and make a point of checking on them weekly and share information about available support. Or speak with your local community centre about setting up informal gatherings where people can spend time in a warm space.

Fuel poverty can feel very isolating and overwhelming, but when we notice, when we care, and when we act, even in small ways, we create a safety net that official services alone can't provide.

Staying warm isn't just about building warm homes and energy efficiency, it's about building community.

Block of flats in winter, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.