“There’s severe black mould and condensation everywhere, especially in my bedroom where I sleep right next to the window. My son is five years old and he’s suffering too.”
For millions of people living in the UK, the horrifying consequences of living with black mould are all too clear.
As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, huge swathes of the country are struggling to afford to heat their homes, even in the depths of winter. Families already grappling with rising energy costs face even greater risks than most, and for many, the cold snap isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s dangerous.
A 40-year-old single mother living in Redbridge, London, who wished to remain anonymous, gave us a glimpse into her harsh reality.
She told the Mirror: “I’ve been living in temporary accommodation for nearly two years now. Before this, I was in a refuge, so there’s never really been a sense of stability. The flat is a one-bedroom place, and the walls are constantly wet. There is severe black mould and condensation everywhere — in the bathroom, the lounge, and especially in my bedroom where I sleep right next to the window.
“I’m a single mother and I suffer from severe sinus issues and multiple allergies, which are made much worse by the damp. My son is five years old and he’s suffering too. Winter is especially hard for both of us. I feel completely stuck living with these conditions, with no way out.
“The smell is awful. After just a few seconds in some rooms, I have to open the windows, even in winter. I can feel cold air coming through a small gap in the living area, and the flat is always freezing. I’ve put up thermal curtains and use a dehumidifier just to try and manage, but I can only afford to put the heating on for short periods.”
According to new research conducted by UK’s largest gas distribution company Cadent, the vast majority (93%) of UK residents surveyed living in cold, damp homes said their financial situation has deteriorated as a result, with over four in five (81%) concerned about heating their homes this winter.
63% of people living in damp conditions have reported severe mould, while 65% of those surveyed with respiratory issues have been living in damp homes for more than two years. 30% of those surveyed admitted to keeping their heating dangerously low to save money – a key driver of damp and mould.
The woeful stats don’t end there. Of those living in social housing, 73% have been living in damp homes for more than two years and 30% say their damp has worsened over the last year. 62% of all those surveyed are struggling to wash and dry their clothes.
Heartbreakingly, research showed many have endured these conditions for an average of five years, putting their physical and mental health at risk.
While a long-term solution to all these problems may seem a little far off on the horizon, there are some things that can be done right now to make the lives of vulnerable people just a little bit easier.
That’s where Warm Wash Centres for vulnerable households come in, where those struggling can come in and use the facilities of a washer and dryer, free of charge, in a warm and safe environment clear of mould and damp, while also being offered practical advice on tackling fuel poverty and preventing damp in homes.
Emma Turnbull, Social Programmes Manager at Cadent, shared with the Mirror: “We’re seeing more and more families coming through the doors really struggling with damp and mould conditions.
“Last week I met a family where a little boy was hospitalised due to damp and mould conditions in their home — he was hospitalised with pneumonia.
“Hearing these heartbreaking stories made Cadent want to take action and offer help to all of our customers living in the most vulnerable situations — this is why we came up with the scheme of Warm Wash Centres across the UK.”
Cadent Gas has launched a new programme to provide urgent support to vulnerable households offering washing, drying, and warm facilities in 10 of the UK’s most deprived areas.
The roll-out of these Warm Wash Centres has already begun across Liverpool, Birmingham, Leicester and London, with several more in the pipeline.
We went down to one of the Warm Wash Centres here in London’s Newham Borough — consistently ranked as one of the most deprived boroughs in the city — and saw it live in action.
The impact this support centre is already making on people’s lives was heartwarming to see. The wash facilities were located inside an all-purpose room in Newham’s The Well Community Centre — a fitting home to the initiative.
The Well Community Centre is the beating heart of Newham’s vulnerable population, and one foot inside its cheery premises was all we needed to understand the massive impact it has on the local community.
Brimming with scores of happy faces chattering away over a cuppa, it’s exactly the kind of place one would feel protected in, especially if the conditions back home may not be as safe.
The room housing the wash facilities was being put to good use, with multiple loads on in both the washer and dryer for the entirety of our visit.
While there, the Mirror spoke to Amarjit Kaur, a mother-of-five born and bred in the UK, who was there to use the facilities and also volunteered part-time at the community centre.
Speaking to us, Amarjit shared that while her story may have started out looking bleak — her personal circumstances had not been kind to her or her kids — she was trying to make the best of the situation at hand.
Having lived in her current home for the last 35 years, Amarjit has had to battle persistent and severe mould and damp issues all her life, sharing that she has “never known any other reality”.
Even in the depths of winter, Amarjit is unable to keep the heating on for too long in her home, and it’s initiatives like these Warm Wash Centres that make daily life a bit more bearable for vulnerable households like Amarijit’s, for whom winter is not cosy hot chocolate season — but a fight for survival.
For more information on Cadent’s Centres for Warmth visit cadentgas.com/damp.
To donate to The Well Community Centre in Newham, London, please click here or visit bonnydowns.org/giving to see other ways to help.
