Renewable energy company, Red Rock Renewables, has partnered with Energy Action Scotland to fund energy efficiency training for front line community workers in Edinburgh, Fife, Dumfries & Galloway and Ayrshire to help support the 25 per cent households experiencing fuel poverty*.
Considered an investment in tackling fuel poverty and helping people lower their emissions, this funding will give eight people from Age Scotland and Citizen’s Advice Bureau an opportunity to complete the City Guild course in Energy Efficiency. These individuals, who may already provide information and fuel debt advice, will now be better informed to help people with preventing heat loss or understanding their energy bills, year after year.
John Yorston, Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality at Red Rock said: “Our partnership with Energy Action Scotland and this investment in the training of front-line workers, will help educate and support hundreds if not thousands of potentially vulnerable people across our local communities, including many rural areas where support can often be limited. This aligns with our wider goals to help alleviate the cause and impact of poverty within our communities and continue to protect the environment through helping to lower carbon emissions.
“Thank you to Energy Action Scotland for delivering this project, and to all those who participated in the training. We hope this funding delivers real benefits to local people for years to come.”
Energy Action Scotland – a charity who campaigns for an end to fuel poverty in Scotland – raised awareness of this opportunity through its local networks and provided extra support to trainees, from practice simulations to one-to-one sessions.
Frazer Scott, CEO of Energy Action Scotland added: “We are delighted to have the support of Red Rock Renewables at this key time of year. With energy bills remaining unaffordable for more than 800,000 households in Scotland and levels of consumer energy debt at an all-time high, people are struggling to maintain basic wellbeing in cold, damp homes. Providing training in local areas ensures that people can access support and advice where they live, from people with local knowledge and understanding, which is key to breaking down barriers to help for those most in need.
“This is an investment in people and in communities and we look forward to being part of that legacy.”
For more information on fuel poverty and how Energy Action Scotland plays a valuable role, visit www.eas.org.uk
*Figure provided by Energy Action Scotland (2019)