My Dad can no longer afford to put the heating on

Hi, my name is Alistair, and my Dad just phoned to say he can no longer afford to turn the heating on in his freezing basement flat. He's been in a challenging situation for several years now, and I have helped out as best I can. But hearing him speak today, holding back the tears as he says he cannot afford to turn on the heating, has broken me.

I have frequently helped to pay his bills in the past, but doing so causes him to put pressure on himself to find a job and pay me back. The more I help, the more pressure he puts on himself, and the bigger the disappointment when yet another job application is turned down – or, as is more often the case, ignored entirely. I don't want paying back, and now hope he is instead more willing to accept acts of kindness from strangers via GoFundMe.

The weather should soon improve, but his flat never really warms up enough to be comfortable, even in the summer months. He regularly wears a coat indoors during the evenings and jogs on the spot to warm up during TV ad breaks.

Dad has struggled to make ends meet for several years now. He previously worked as a successful bank manager and latterly a hotel manager in the southeast of England but has been unable to find consistent work since 2018. Now in his mid-60s, job applications seemingly go ignored. He is on Jobseekers' Allowance, but that often isn't enough to cover his energy bills. I currently pay for his broadband – a vital social lifeline, as he cannot afford to socialise in the way most of us take for granted.

The cost of living crisis has hit home for me this evening, as my poor dad admits defeat at the hands of a system that simply does not work. He wants to find a job more than anything else. But right now, he needs to be able to turn his heating on and have a warm bath without worrying about whether he can afford to eat. This is a man who has had successes and failures throughout his life, and is more resilient than anyone I know. But now he's desperate, and I hope the kindness of strangers will help in at least some small way.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.