highland council fuel support fund

By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies -. Highland Council and SSE Renewables to offer support to those facing More than 85,000 worth of vouchers and equipment have been distributed to families across the area, helping their tenants to reduce their energy costs and pay their bills. This discretionary fuel support scheme is still open and plans remain in place to ensure households who have not yet responded, will not lose out, he said. 2023- Highland News and Media Ltd. All rights reserved. More than 3,000 people could miss out. Highland Council and SSE Renewables team up to offer support to those Highland Families Bolstered by Albyn Fuel Fund If you are an Albyn tenant, and are needing help paying your bills, please do get in touch with us or speak with your housing officer. Low income . Council leader Councillor Margaret Davidson said: "Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. Highland Park, . More than 85,000 worth of vouchers and equipment have been distributed to families across the area, helping their tenants to reduce their Highland Council to offer Fuel Support Fund grants for low income Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. Fuel Support Fund for low income Highland households experiencing fuel insecurities. Full details including online application https://www.highland.gov.uk . The Fund has offered Highland Council 1m of grant funding to be spent over 2022/23 and 2023/24 with the option to extend funding to 2024/25 if necessary. However, a portion of the fund is helping those who are most in need, regardless of their housing situation. An outline of 1.4 miles of Green Bay Road in Highland Park that is set for an overhaul beginning in 2024 or 2025. Cllr Bremner also highlighted that the scheme is open to all owner occupier and privately rented properties who meet eligibility criteria and encouraged members of the public to make inquiries about the scheme. Cllr Davidson said: Working from home has increased the financial pressures for many of our households. All Rights Reserved. Tenants can access this fund by emailing energyfund@albynhousing.org.uk or by speaking to their housing officer. The Councils head of revenues and business support will therefore look at these claims on an individual basis so that awards can be made to those who are eligible.. A spokesman said: "The Fuel Support Fund was established at the council's discretion using around 1m from the Scottish Government's Winter Support Fund and 2.24m from the council's. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. To help tenants reduce their overall energy usage, almost 90 energy saving cooking appliances have been distributed. They can be contacted by phone on 0800 090 1004 or by e-mailwelfare.support@highland.gov.uk. The significant recent increases in fuel prices will place even greater pressures on an increased number of Highland residents. As part of the scheme, more than 300 households have been provided with 230 or more towards their energy bills. He added: One of the key issues we have faced to date is a lack of sign-ups for the scheme. In addition, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has a specialist team of Energy Advisors who can undertake a range of energy checks which are designed to help with reducing domestic fuel bills. Proposals to provide almost 3 million to help households in fuel poverty in the Highlands this winter will be considered by councillors on Thursday. 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We are delighted to announce the arrival of grant support from SSE Renewables which, through the area-based scheme, will help us deliver efficiency savings to those households most in need.. Using Covid-19 funding from the Scottish Government the council can make a 60 grant per household to help those who have been awarded council tax reduction and are having difficulties paying their fuel bills. Click here to sign up to our curated newsletters. Learn how your comment data is processed. Aberdeen Journals Ltd 2023. The 270,000. The good news is that we still have some funding left and we are very eager to make sure this gets to households in need. We will do our best to provide you with the support you need.. Council tax rules mean that there are some individuals on a low income who are exempt from council tax and therefore not entitled to council tax reduction. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. More than 85,000 worth of vouchers and equipment have been distributed to families across the area, helping their tenants to reduce their energy costs and pay their bills. Leader of Highland Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner said: Highland is experiencing some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in Scotland. Due to rising costs in energy prices, it is anticipated that these figures will increase significantly. Fuel poverty campaigners call for more ambitious targets, Fuel poverty among Scottish households drops by 4%, Fuel poverty initiatives named amongst engineering projects of the future, Fuel poverty strategy must go further to give assurance that Scotland will meet fuel poverty targets. The funding comes from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations who are administering the 2 million fund on behalf of the Scottish Government. George Mitchell: Should we have the right to die? The Liberal Democrat MP said: It is entirely wrong that the council is telling people that they must apply online to access the Fuel Support Payment, despite operating a phone support line for the expressed purpose of helping people claim their benefits. Fuel Support Fund for low income Highland - The Highland Council The Cost-of-Living Crisis is having a devastating impact on households across Highland. As well as providing a 245 voucher for her energy bills, we were also able to supply an air fryer, a more energy efficient kettle and winter duvets for her young family. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Highland Park residents react to newest concept for renovation, bike The Councils head of revenues and business support will therefore look at these claims on an individual basis so that awards can be made to those who are eligible.. If agreed, a payment of 180 would be made to around 16,440 eligible Highland households where residents are in receipt of means-tested council tax reduction. Mr Reiss said: The energy expertise within Citizens Advice means that help available for individual households is identified and accessed. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Households in the Highlands who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of Covid-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund grant from Highland Council. This site uses cookies. Large sections of the Highland population do not have access to mains gas and are reliant on more expensive sources of domestic heating such as oil, wood, coal, and wood pellets. Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery (LACER) Fund, Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Councillor Matthew Reiss, vice chairman of the councils corporate resources committee, said 5,400 applications had been received in total. 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Highland Council's fuel and food support heralded a success In addition, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has a specialist team of Energy Advisors who can undertake a range of energy checks which are designed to help with reducing domestic fuel bills. At a time when bills are skyrocketing, we cannot delay getting this money into the hands of those who need it most.. The Highland Council (LogOut/ Call free on 0800 090 1004 or email welfare.support@highland.gov.uk. The funding will be used exclusively to support Highland households in extreme fuel poverty. (LogOut/ This is where the SSE Renewables Grant can help those experiencing extreme fuel poverty. Click here to sign up to our curated newsletters. All applicants will be offered a referral to Citizens Advice (CAB) for energy checks and expertise available from CAB as this may help to reduce domestic fuel bills. It has offered the Highland Council 1 million of grant funding to be spent over 2022/23 and 2023/24 with the option to extend funding to 2024/25 if necessary. Council officials responded: Due to the difficult situation many of our customers currently find themselves in, our welfare team are already working at full capacity to manage the volume of referrals they receive. Over the last nine years the scheme has leveraged around 34 million of external funding to the Highlands to deliver energy efficiency measures to over 3,100 privately owned and privately rented properties throughout the Highlands. Low income households within Highland experiencing fuel insecurities can apply for a non-repayable 60 grant. Councillor Margaret Davidson, council leader, said: Sadly, as a result of Covid-19, an increasing number of households in Highland are experiencing fuel insecurities. The SSE Renewable fund is part of the organisations commitment to the Scottish Governments Good Practice Principals for Community Benefits from Onshore Wind. The funding will be used exclusively to support Highland households in extreme fuel poverty. The funding will help many vulnerable residents benefit from warm, sustainable homes for years to come.". Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone accused Highland Council of wilful digital exclusion over recent letters sent out to residents inviting them to claim a 180 Fuel Support Payment. The EES:ABS grant and new funding will be used to reduce/remove household contributions on a range of energy efficiency measures including: While the programme adopts a fabric first approach, the 2022/23 programme has a particular focus on installation of air source heat pumps and also encouraging householders to consider Cavity Wall, Loft Insulation and solar panels and battery storage. The funding will be used exclusively to support Highland households in extreme fuel poverty. Could you spare five minutes of your time to complete our survey, it will help us improve customer experience. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox. On 29 October 2021, the Scottish Government announced a 41m Winter Support Fund for low-income families which includes 10m nationally to help those struggling to pay their fuel bills. As this is a cash-limited fund, the Scheme will close on February 28. Households are advised to contact their energy supplier to check eligibility. Could you spare five minutes of your time to complete our survey, it will help us improve customer experience. More than 200 warm winter duvets have also been distributed. Households in the Highland who are on low income and experiencing fuel insecurities as a result of COVID-19 can apply for a Fuel Support Fund from The Highland Council. The programme, on average, has annual carbon savings of 20,897 tonnes (pre-COVID figure), making a significant contribution to a low carbon Highland. There has been a tremendous response from across the Highlands for this important fuel support grant, put in place to help mitigate the costs of winter and the growing pressures on family incomes and finances, increasing unemployment and the uncertainty that lies ahead. Cllr Davidson said: Working from home has increased the financial pressures for many of our households. 3 million approved by Highland Council to help those in fuel poverty Large sections of the Highland population do not have access to mains gas and are reliant on more expensive sources of domestic heating such as oil, wood, coal, and wood pellets. Large sections of the Highland population do not have access to mains gas and are reliant on more expensive sources of domestic heating such as oil, wood, coal, and wood pellets. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Council to consider support for households living in fuel poverty nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism. The low energy cooking solutions have been really popular, helping households to have a hot meal at a lower cost. More than 4,500 north households benefited in the first three weeks of the scheme, launched at the end of January. People on low incomes who are experiencing fuel insecurities can apply online for a 60 non-repayable cash payment per application which is made to eligible applicants. The 270,000 Fuel Support Fund has been set up by the Council using Scottish Government funding which can be used flexibly to alleviate financial insecurities. Highland Council has therefore decided to use part of the Governments funding to set up a fuel support fund for those who are having difficulties paying for fuel for their homes.. Large sections of the Highland population do not have access to mains gas and are reliant on more expensive sources of domestic heating such as oil, wood, coal, and wood pellets. The Welfare Support Team provides free, impartial and confidential support on fuel insecurity concerns, in addition to offering assistance to check eligibility and submit a claim for all benefits and entitlements. Applications for a directFuel Support Payment are now closed.