Lancashire based charity Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living has been awarded £46,835 by the ScottishPower Energy People Trust for an 18 month project which aims to help lift more than 3,500 people out of fuel poverty.

The aim of the organisation’s Bill Busters project is to enable fuel poor, vulnerable households to live in affordably warm, dry and comfortable homes, whilst in control of their fuel use and their fuel costs.

The project employs one full time energy efficiency advisor who is responsible for recruiting and managing eight volunteer community energy champions and managing the affordable warmth project.

Local residents can access help and advice in relation to their energy usage and bills through one to one energy advice surgeries either in Bangor Street community centre or through household visits which offer tailored advice if required.

Presentations will take place throughout the community to established groups, such as parent and toddler groups, along with community roadshows to provide information on keeping homes affordably warm.

In addition to these presentations, workshops will also take place in community venues and information stands will also be set up in local schools at parent evenings.
 
Ann Loughrey, ScottishPower’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and The ScottishPower Energy People Trust’s Company Secretary, said:

“We’re very pleased to support Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living and fund its Bill Busters project. People struggle with fuel poverty when more than 10% of their income is spent on energy usage and we work to alleviate this through grassroots organisations such as this.

“Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living already makes a difference to the lives of many people by tackling the health, social and economic inequalities in some of the most deprived areas of the county.

“We’re delighted that with the help of our funding the organisation will be able to target and develop some of its assistance towards helping to alleviate fuel poverty.”

Abdul Mulla, Chief Officer at Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living, said:

“We would like to thank ScottishPower Energy People Trust for its support and funding.

"Our organisation exists to ensure that local people have access to, and are involved in the design and delivery of services that improve their health and well-being.  Funding the ScottishPower Energy People Trust had provided will enable us to work more closely with local people and help to create affordable warmth for all which in turn benefits the health and wellbeing of local residents.”

Established in November 2005, the Scottish Power Energy People Trust provides vital funding for registered charities 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.

Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living is in place to maintain and develop creative partnerships to tackle the social and economic inequalities experienced in Blackburn to ensure people living in these areas can achieve their optimum state of well-being and health. The project ensures that the communities have ownership and involvement in projects to design local solutions to meet health needs.

For further information on Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living, please visit www.bwdhealthyliving.co.uk

For further information on the ScottishPower Energy People Trust, please visit: www.energypeopletrust.com

For more information please contact:

Susanne Grant, the BIG Partnership, on 0141 333 9585 / 07824 388 472 susanne.grant@bigpartnership.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

• The ScottishPower Energy People Trust was established in November 2005 to fund registered charities 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.


• The ScottishPower Energy People Trust has awarded £10,846,009 to 220 community projects helping 1,575,250 people in 1,316,071 households


• 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.com or email SPEnergyPeopleTrust@ScottishPower.com or call 0141 568 3492


• 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.

Blackburn and Darwen Healthy Living

• Blackburn with Darwen Healthy Living is based at Bangor Street community centre. The charity aims to provide training and educational opportunities for the community to develop health and fitness opportunities, healthy eating programmes and various activities