Florence residents embrace 'adopt a bill' scheme to pay struggling elderly pensioners' bills
We asked an elderly people charity if this could work in the UK
An 'adopt a bill' scheme has been launched in Florence, Italy to ease the strain of soaring energy bills on the vulnerable elderly. The cost of living crisis means we're all looking for tips when it comes to how to keep your house warm in winter.
The ‘adopt a bill’ (adotta una bolletta) movement will go some way in helping the thousands of pensioners living alone in Florence. Could this scheme be brought to the UK?
The 'adopt a bill' scheme in Florence
The movement allows individuals and organisations to donate as much or as little as they would like towards the utility bills of struggling senior citizens. The Montedomini Foundation is collecting donations and has been contacted by lots of individuals and companies wanting to help.
Gas and electricity bills are predicted to rise by more than 50% in Italy this winter, and a large segment (27.6%) of the population in Florence is over 65, many living off around 9,000 euros a year.
Florence mayor, Dario Nardella told the Guardian, ‘The social impact is very strong as we’re facing huge increases in bills. We’ve received many calls and letters from people who are in great difficulty.’ Nardella says the response to the 'adopt a bill' scheme has been 'very impressive.'
Morgan Vine, Head of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, on the other hand, describes the movement as a 'sticking plaster solution' that would be disempowering to people aged 65 and over. 'While the initiative in Florence is undoubtedly well-intentioned, we do not believe it is the right approach for the UK,' Morgan comments.
'Older people we speak to want to be financially independent and having enough money to manage their own costs is essential to this. Pension Credit - financial support that alleviates poverty for many people in later life and can link recipients to extra support worth up to £7,000 - is one way to improve older people’s situation, but it consistently has the lowest uptake of all income-related benefits,' she tells us.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
Morgan says Florence's 'adopt a bill' scheme is no more than a short-term fix that takes the responsibility away from the government, whose job it is to ensure the basic needs of older people are met.
It follows protests across Italy against rising energy bills in which the lights of many monuments have been turned off for 30 minutes. At a time when communities are increasingly fragmented due to urban living, it's heartwarming to see the solidarity that Florence has shown with 'adopt a bill.'
As for whether it's a long-term solution, remains to be seen.
Millie Hurst was Senior Content Editor at Ideal Home from 2020-2022, and is now Section Editor at Homes & Gardens. Before stepping into the world of interiors, she worked as a Senior SEO Editor for News UK in both London and New York. You can usually find her looking up trending terms and finding real-life budget makeovers our readers love. Millie came up with the website's daily dupes article which gives readers ways to curate a stylish home for less.
-
Do your bedside lamps need to match? Design experts agree on this approach for a calming scheme
Looking to switch up your bedside lamps but not sure whether to go matchy-matchy or mix things up a bit?
By Holly Walsh
-
This 59p product drastically reduced the condensation on my windows - and you probably have it in your cupboards already
You probably already have this everyday essential in your cupboards, but I bet you didn’t know that it’s a natural dehumidifier
By Lauren Bradbury
-
Can heated airers cause damp? Experts explain this common problem and how to combat it
Find out how to quickly dry your clothes this winter while keeping your home mould-free
By Eilidh Williams