Project workers at Angus Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) are celebrating after offering a helping hand to nearly 300 vulnerable households across the area.

The Fuel Fair project, which aims to relieve fuel poverty, was given a grant of almost £70,000 from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust in February this year and has helped save clients almost £6,500 in fuel bills as a direct result.

Angus CAB is using the funding to staff the project, which offers one-to-one working and group sessions with clients, advising them on energy efficiency, income maximisation and sensible budgeting. Nine months on, the project has already smashed its quarterly target of 210 households.

The project is just one of 125 across the UK to benefit from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust’s funding since its inception in 2005.

Ann Loughrey, ScottishPower’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and The ScottishPower Energy People Trust's Company Secretary said: "With the cold months setting in, now is the time for people at risk of living in fuel poverty to be taking advantage of support on offer. It’s important that people know how to budget sensibly and are fully aware of what benefits are available to them.

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"We are pleased to hear that the Fuel Fair project has been a huge success and has brought warmth to so many households in Angus. We are confident that the staff will continue the good work and successfully reach their overall target of helping 840 homes in the area."

As well as offering one-to-one support to people at risk of fuel poverty, the project provides group sessions, which have been very popular with expectant parents in particular.

Staff at the Fuel Fair initiative work with partner organisations, such as Tayside NHS, Angus Council, Homestart Angus and Angus Credit Union to identify the most vulnerable and in need of assistance. The project also accepts self-referrals.

One anonymous client has been very grateful for the support they have been offered at the project and said: "It took a lot for my support worker to get me to come here but I’m so glad I did. Now that I’ve got control of my money and know that my bills are being paid, I don’t feel stressed. I’ve lost a stone and a half in weight and am spending more time with the kids instead of buying them stuff they don’t need."

The two-year long initiative is set to be complete by the end of January 2011 and aims to assist a total of 2,050 individuals in 840 households.

(GK/KMcA)