Connecting Communities

The project aims to address the need for support from Fife households that are struggling to heat their homes affordably. The project will focus on those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of fuel poverty, especially people for whom English is not their first language, those with low literacy and numeracy skills, and those who are digitally excluded. 

Utilising learning gained from previous projects, they have developed a community engagement approach that ensures effective reach and maximises participant benefit. They will work closely with local groups, organisations and support agencies, train new referral partners, recruit a team of local energy champion volunteers to act as trusted local connectors for the service, and work in targeted neighbourhoods to deliver support where it is most needed. 

They will also develop marketing materials and online resources to engage with 10,000 people, raising awareness of energy issues and how they can help. 

The project will work in-depth with 700 vulnerable households, providing advice on energy efficiency, financial support and supplier switching, plus referrals to other sources of well-being support, from income maximisation to befriending services. A ‘handy’ service, fitting warm curtains, draught-proofing and other simple energy-saving measures, will increase the energy efficiency of households, and those at risk of under-heating will receive ‘cosy’ packs to increase their immediate thermal comfort.