More cash for key agencies
More than £1.2 million will be immediately distributed to help key organisation reach more people who need financial help.
The Scottish Government funding will also support a training programme for staff from third sector organisations to expand the reach of expert advice.
Advice Direct Scotland, Home Energy Scotland and Citizen’s Advice Scotland will be the three main groups initialy getting the cash.
The Scottish Government committed to the additional support at the Scottish Energy Summit hosted by the first minister on 23 August, at which a series of further actions to mitigate the energy price rises were agreed with energy companies and advice organisations.
The funding is on top of the Scottish Government’s existing investment in free income, welfare and debt advice services, including support to Money Advice Scotland and the Welfare Advice and Health Partnerships Programme.
Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings and Tenants Rights Patrick Harvie visited Home Energy Scotland’s Edinburgh offices to speak to advisors who have been supporting households.
He said: “We know that this is an incredibly unsettling time for all households and businesses and it is imperative that those worried about or struggling with heating their homes access the information and support they need to reduce their energy bills.
“A further energy price cap increase announcement will only serve to escalate concerns, making the need for impartial, expert advice and support even more vital.
“The Scottish Government is clear that energy customers simply cannot be expected to carry the burden of further price rises in October, and that the UK Government must now commit to freeze the cap for all households and to support energy companies to deliver that.
“In the meantime, the cost crisis is already hitting energy customers hard and the Scottish Government will continue to do everything within our means to support the people of Scotland through it.
“This funding will ensure that expert advisors across the country stand ready to provide crucial support and guidance to those understandably worried about their energy bills. I would urge everyone who has concerns to access these services and get the support they need.”
It is estimated that 906,000 or 36% of all households will be in fuel poverty in October 2022, based on an Ofgem price cap of £2,800 and taking into account previously announced government mitigations.
Hi
this is great but it is only the first small step.
It costs families with a disabled child(ren) on average three times as much to raise their child(ren) than a non disabled child - so already the cost of living crisis is disproportionately impacting disabled children and their families. The cost of essential stable household costs are going through the roof: food, clothing, utilities, transport to name just a few. Everyday items and costs for families and disabled children that cant be cut back because they are already squeezed to the max.
The Scottish Gov and major funders were brilliant at putting in place emergency funding such as Resilience and Wellbeing funding when covid-19 struck. The legacy of this cost of living crisis which isnt anywhere near it's pinnacle is going to make covid look like a bad cold.
Lets hope those lessons were learnt and similar emergency funding is put in place sooner rather than later to help charities work with families who are facing desperate times, otherwise I dread to think how families are going to get through this crisis.
HELP!