Funding boost for new energy project Reduction in fuel debt set to help vulnerable families

A new project that will aim to help people cut energy bills has been given a funding boost by ScottishPower.

Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) is running its first project in Linwood, the Linwood Family Support Initiative.

And it has been given £45,000 from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust.

The project will work closely with local organisations to refer families who need additional support to maximise their income and tackle fuel debt.

Free services on offer include one- to- one consultations, specialised drop-in sessions and tailored workshops for children.

Jen O’Brien, depute project manager at LEAP, said: “Our aim at the Linwood Family Support project is to help improve the quality of life of local families.

“Funding from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust will allow us to offer support and help create opportunities to improve the social, physical and economic wellbeing of some of Renfrewshire’s most vulnerable residents.”

LEAP is working with KLAS Care, a community out of school care project which looks after 180 children before and after school and employs 16 people.

Linwood mums Les l e y Compston and Kirsty MacKenzie set up KLAS Care back in 2010 in response to a severe lack of local affordable childcare in Linwood.

The project is currently in the process of converting the former janitors house at East Fulton Primary School into dedicated premises which will be used by the community during the day.

LEAP plans to use the building to run the Linwood Family Support Initiative.

Lesley explained: “We help families by providing affordable childcare, which tackles in-work poverty.

“Working with LEAP will help tackle fuel poverty.

“LEAP are already working with us doing outreach work.

“Once our building is set up, LEAP will be based in our place for people to come to them and work through energy-efficiency solutions.

“We’re looking forward to working with them.”

Richard Taylor, secretary of the ScottishPower Energy People Trust, added: “It’s fantastic to be working with LEAP on the Linwood Family Support project.

“The initiative is set to be a valuable source of advice and support to local families.

“The Energy People Trust is committed to supporting people across the country and we work with some really inspirational projects to make this happen.”

 For more information on the Linwood Family Support initiative, please visit www.myleapproject. org