Over 500 vulnerable residents in and around Keith are set to gain the benefits of essential energy efficiency advice, thanks to a grant from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust.

REAP (Rural Environmental Action Project) received nearly £7,000 in funding from the Trust to put 10 staff members and volunteers through the City and Guilds Energy Awareness Course, which will enable them to pass on vital energy efficiency advice to clients across the North East of Moray.

The course will provide members of staff with the necessary skills to give advice on various aspects of energy efficiency to save individuals money and energy. These include carrying out an energy efficiency survey in the home, advising on effective use of controls and grant information for installing energy efficiency measures, for example cavity wall insulation.

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Ann Loughrey, ScottishPower's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and the ScottishPower Energy People Trust's Company Secretary said: "We are pleased to be able to offer REAP a helping hand towards its goal in reducing fuel poverty. The training will provide workers with the necessary information on energy efficiency to pass on to vulnerable clients.

"Fuel poverty is partly caused by poor energy efficiency in the home so small and simple steps, such as switching to low energy bulbs, can make a difference in the long run to energy bills. Also, by being aware of measures you can put in place, such as loft insulation, can make a huge difference to warmth in homes and there are grants available for these."

Established in November 2005, the ScottishPower Energy People Trust provides vital funding for not-for-profit organisations 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.

To date, the Trust has awarded almost £5.5m to 116 projects helping over 391,000 individuals in over 243,000 households throughout Britain.

(GK/BMcc)