Point and Sandwick’s Energy Support Unit (ESU) has gained recognition in a national database dedicated to combating poverty, sharing how their work is making a difference to householders in the Western Isles. SPIRU, the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit is an interdisciplinary research group based at Glasgow Caledonian University working to investigate and develop effective responses to poverty and inequality.
One such project is the Energy Support Unit based in Point and Sandwick area, designed to support those most vulnerable to the fuel hikes which have dominated over recent years. Managed by Muirneag Consulting and funded by the Point and Sandwick Trust (PST), it offers direct financial assistance through the PST Fuel Hardship Fund, as well as guidance on available support and navigating fuel payment systems. Since its inception in December 2022, the ESU has distributed £210,000 in fuel grants to eligible households, aiding pensioners, single adults, and families impacted by rising energy costs.
Stewart highlights the ESU’s alignment with SPIRU’s goals and emphasises the database’s role in sharing best practices. The ESU prioritises addressing fuel poverty in the Western Isles, particularly in Point and Sandwick area. Professor John McKendrick, Co-Director of SPIRU, underscores the importance of local anti-poverty initiatives, emphasising the need to adapt strategies to each community’s context.
In April 2023, Energy Action Scotland estimated nearly 4 in 10 households in Scotland to be in fuel poverty. This figure is higher in the Western Isles where fuel poverty is a complex problem with multiple drivers; houses which are still largely energy inefficient, modest average salaries and the cost-of-living crisis and fuel price increases. The collaboration between the ESU and SPIRU exemplifies efforts to combat fuel poverty through innovative solutions and knowledge-sharing.
For the full official press release, please access it here.
https://www.pointandsandwick.co.uk/news/tackling-fuel-poverty-and-sharing-best-practice/
Tackling fuel poverty and sharing best practice
Tuesday 19 March, 2024
Point and Sandwick’s Energy Support Unit (ESU) has gained recognition in a national database dedicated to combating poverty, sharing how their work is making a difference to householders in the Western Isles.
