Community Windpower’s East Lothian Energy Fund has distributed half of its cash in the past two months.
Supported directly by Community Windpower’s Aikengall wind farm array in East Lothian the fund has distributed £500,000 to over 900 individuals and families across East Lothian to assist with their winter energy bills and rising costs due to the current cost-of-living crisis.
This initiative is a partnership between Community Windpower, Advice Direct Scotland, and East Lothian Council.
In this cost-of-living crisis, rising energy bills and costs across the board are affecting the health and well-being of many people across Scotland.
This fund supports the most vulnerable in East Lothian and is proving to be a great success, helping so many people in the area.
In terms of eligibility, those on means-tested benefits, and those with a terminal illness, can qualify for the fund, and may also be eligible for additional enhanced payments.
The importance of providing additional support in this cost-of-living crisis to terminally ill people is because those who have received a terminal diagnosis often require warm houses or supportive medical equipment to ease the impact of their illnesses.
Following a successful application, payments can be made directly to an individual’s energy supplier or in the form of vouchers for pre-payment meters, which can remove the unnecessary stress and concern around winter energy bills.
Community Windpower’s managing director Rod Wood said: “When we set up this fund, we appreciated that there would be a need for the support it offered, however we did not imagine how great that need would be.
“We have been humbled by the stories filtering through from both Anouska at BeGreen and the team at Advice Direct, which have shown how much the support offered means to families and individuals in the area.
“It reinforces what an important part the Scottish renewable industry can play in supporting vulnerable families and individuals across Scotland.”
The fund is set to run until the end of March 2023, continuing to support the most vulnerable in East Lothian over the winter period.