A Toastie treat for St Andrews environment group

Local charity, St Andrews Environmental Network has been awarded Â£49,815 by the ScottishPower Energy People Trust to fund its work helping young adults and families with young children in North East Fife. From left: Troy Slater, service user, Anne Nicol, energy advisor, Ann Loughrey & Carol Dunn, ScottishPower Energy People Trust.

Its project, Toastie Youth, offers free impartial energy guidance to residents in the area and has gained a blazing £49,815.

By April 2016, the project aims to help over 680 people by providing practical energy efficiency advice and carrying out 400 home visits.

The Toastie Youth team hosts regular community workshops and one-to-one meetings with individuals who have been referred to the project.

Troy Slater, service user, Jane Kell, St Andrew Environmental Network manager, Ann Loughrey & Carol Dunne, both ScottishPower Energy People Trust, Anne Nicol, energy adviser and Gavin Brady, general handyman.

Jane Kell, Toastie Youth project manager said: “Fuel poverty is a massive problem in north east Fife and we provide services from information stalls to going into people’s homes and discussing in detail how we can help people improve their fuel poverty.”

Poor housing can have an impact on fuel poverty and particularly in north east Fife which has a high proportion of stone properties and single glazed housing.

The team visits the homes of the most vulnerable members of the community to install free, simple insulation measures to their homes.

The grant has allowed the team to take small measures that “make all the difference” such as installing LED lights, hanging curtains and draft proofing.

Explaining energy bills and helping people to understand their energy system is also part of the one to one service the Toastie Youth team have provided.

Trustees from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust visited the team at St Andrews Environmental Network to find out more about the project and meet people from the local community who have benefited from their support.

They also discussed the positive impact it has had on their lives.

Ann Loughrey, company secretary and trustee, ScottishPower said: “The Trust recognises that providing support to grass roots projects such as Toastie Youth is vital to helping vulnerable people.

“This visit gives us the opportunity to see first-hand how much it has helped the local community.

“St Andrews Environmental Network is a well-respected local organisation committed to helping some of the most vulnerable people in North East Fife.

“Thanks to funding from the Trust, it has allowed the organisation to set-up up a much needed and valuable project that will having lasting effects in the local community.”

Jane said: “Support from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust has allowed us to set an ambitious goal to help at least 680 vulnerable people within the community and will ensure we reach our target.

“It has resulted in the project hosting various community events and engage with local charities in a bid to improve the lives of families and young people across St Andrews and North East Fife.”

The ScottishPower Energy People Trust funds registered charities that help people whose lives are affected by fuel poverty.

Since forming in November 2005, the Trust has provided over £13 million to 297 projects across Britain, helping more than 1.7 million people.

The Trust is funded by ScottishPower and voluntary donations from independent supporters.