Help Fuel Fife Folk this winter

Greener Kirkcaldy has joined St Andrews Environmental Network to appeal for donations to the Help Fuel Fife Folk campaign ahead of Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.

Donations will help families in Fife stay warm by supporting vital measures including low-energy electric over-blankets, thermal curtains, reflective radiator panels and emergency fuel top-ups.

We’re encouraging people who received an Energy Bill Support Scheme Payment or Winter Fuel Payment and can afford to heat their homes without this support to consider donating the payment to help other households in Fife.

Michael Hildrew, Energy Advice Team Leader (Fuel Poverty), Greener Kirkcaldy said: “There is unprecedented demand for our services at the moment. The cost of living crisis and the continued rise in energy prices mean many households face a very real choice between heating their home and eating hot meals this winter.

*Living in a cold home can cause serious problems for people’s physical and mental health. Children and older people are particularly vulnerable.

“Access to independent advice and simple energy-saving measures can make a real difference to people’s lives. Supporting our appeal will help us do even more. I’d encourage anyone who can afford to help to make a donation.”

Greener Kirkcaldy and St. Andrews Environmental Network work to help people stay warm, save energy and save money. Last year they helped over 3,000 households in Fife by visiting people in their homes and providing free energy advice.

This help has supported people like Amanda, who lives with her two children and works part-time as an in-home carer.

Amanda got in touch when the increase in energy prices and fuel prices meant she had to choose between topping up her meter to keep the lights on, or to put fuel in her car to travel to the homes of the people that she supported the next day.

Amanda was able to take control of her energy use and understand her bills and received some thermal curtains to keep out the draughts and to keep the heat in. She also received LED light bulbs to cut down her electricity costs, and an emergency top up to keep her meter running until she was paid again.

Amanda was able to get to work the next day and to keep the meter running so she could cook for her children when she got home. Free and independent advice helped her to take control of her energy use and make her home warmer.

How to donate to the Help Fuel Fife Folk campaign

• Donate through the online donations page: www.greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk/fuel
• Send a cheque made payable to ‘Greener Kirkcaldy’ to Greener Kirkcaldy, 8 East Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1XT.
• Call 01592 858458 to make a telephone donation
• Visit Greener Kirkcaldy’s community building at 8 East Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy to donate in cash. Open Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 4.30pm (Wednesday 12pm – 4.30pm).