Calls to SVP for help with heating oil more than double in a single year

Calls to The Society of St Vincent de Paul for help with heating oil costs have more than doubled on the number received in March last year, underscoring the growing financial pressure on households and the urgent need for increased support.

New figures revealed by SVP show that requests for assistance to its Regional Office in Belfast rose by 126.5% in March 2026 compared to the same month last year. This sharp increase reflects the deepening cost-of-living challenges faced by families and individuals living in poverty and, in particular due to the rise in the cost of home heating oil, as almost two-thirds of homes (62.5%) in Northern Ireland using oil for heating, the highest proportion of UK nations.

Mary Waide, SVP National Vice President, said: “The rise in calls to our Regional Office in Belfast for people who cannot afford to put oil in the tank is absolutely shocking and these figures only capture the people who are brave enough or willing to lift the phone. I’m sure there are many more who need help but just don’t know how to request it or are too afraid to ask.

“Even with the brighter evenings, it is still bitterly cold and for people we are visiting, who are sitting in a cold and often damp home, there is little to no feeling of the arrival of spring. While SVP volunteers are out in our local areas doing all we can to provide much needed assistance, the reality is that demand is far outpacing the limited resources we have available. Without additional support, many households will continue to struggle to heat their homes.”

Last year alone, £5.5 million in support was distributed by the Society, made possible entirely through generous public donations. However, with demand rising so significantly, there is growing concern that current levels of funding will not be enough to meet need in the months ahead.

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The charity is now calling for increased donations to expand its reach and ensure more families can access vital support. At the same time, there is a clear call for greater statutory intervention to address the systemic challenges driving fuel poverty.

“We would urge anyone who needs help to contact us and with increased donations we can extend our support further and reach more people in crisis,” said Mary.

“But charitable efforts alone are not enough, government needs to take a holistic and urgent approach to tackling poverty by recognising that households are being hit simultaneously by rising fuel, energy and food costs. We need structured, long-term solutions, and greater statutory support, to address the dire and ever-increasing cost burdens being placed upon families and individuals.”

Mary added: “As energy costs remain volatile and financial pressures continue, the message is plain and simple - without urgent action and increased resources, many vulnerable households in communities right across the Region risk being left in the cold.”

To seek help from SVP or to donate, please visit svp.ie.