THOUSANDS of vulnerable households in Ayr Lochside are to benefit from a grant of £100,000 to help keep homes warm and save money.

The Ayr Lochside Community Energy Project will be using the funding to offer free insulation measures to those in need and tips on energy efficiency to help households make the most of the energy they use and their household income in the long term.

The project, which is managed by a team at the Energy Agency, has been awarded almost £100,000 in funding, thanks to The ScottishPower Energy People Trust.

With South Ayrshire Council estimating the fuel poverty index of the Ayr Lochside area to be 58 per cent, the timing of the grant is crucial in order to prevent homes from suffering further.

The ScottishPower Energy People Trust was established in November 2005 to fund not-for-profit organisations that help vulnerable people including families, young people, the disabled and the elderly who need to spend more than 10% of their income on energy bills.

Ann Loughrey, ScottishPower’s Head of Corporate Responsibility and The ScottishPower Energy People Trust’s Company Secretary said:

“We are delighted to be able to assist this project and are positive that the grant will make a difference to the lives of vulnerable people in Ayr Lochside.

“The Trust is something special as it helps end fuel poverty by providing financial assistance to Charities and not for profit organisations who deal directly with individuals affected by it.”

“Different types of support are provided, including crisis funding, benefits entitlement check, energy efficiency measures and research – all measures to help alleviate fuel poverty.”

The Ayr Lochside Community Energy Project is using the funding to carry out energy efficiency surveys on around 2,000 households in the area which do not meet insulation standards.

The surveys will allow households in need of free insulation to be identified and all homes will receive a copy of the energy efficiency report including advice on measures to reduce fuel bills and maximise income.

The year-long project is expected to assist over 4,000 individuals in the area, with nearly 2,000 households benefiting.

So far, the ScottishPower Energy PeopleTrust has awarded a staggering £3.2m to 82 projects across Britain, assisting over 206,000 individuals in over 85,000 households.

Every household in Ayr Lochside will receive a letter advising them of the project.  For more information on how you can benefit from this initiative, please contact Michael Carr at the Energy Agency on 01292 521896.

NOTE TO EDITORS

• The ScottishPower Energy People Trust does not provide funding directly to individuals but provides funding to not for profit organisations which represent the vulnerable/fuel poor. People described as living in fuel poverty are those who spend more than 10% of their income on energy bills.
• There is no time limit in organisations applying for funds as the Trust is a long term registered charity. The decisions on the awards to organisations are made independent of ScottishPower by the Board of Trustees of the charity.
• To apply for a grant from The ScottishPower Energy People Trust, log onto www.energypeopletrust.co.uk  or email enquiries@energypeopletrust.co.uk or call 0141 568 4727.
• The ScottishPower Energy People Trust is just one of a number of ScottishPower initiatives which assist some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. As well as working closely with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, ScottishPower employs Community Liaison Officers who visit people in their homes. The energy supplier has also insulated thousands of homes across the UK through its Energy Efficiency Commitment.
• In Ofgem’s Review of Suppliers’ Voluntary Initiatives to Help Vulnerable Customers (August 2007), the Trust was recognised for Best Practice as it integrated energy efficiency advice and the provision of EEC measures to help customers manage and reduce future energy expenditure.
• The Energy Agency is a non-profit organisation providing free, impartial, expert advice on energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable issues.
• The Energy Agency won the Energy Action Scotland, Energy Savers Award 2007, the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2007 and the National Home Improvement Council Awards 2007.