STRUGGLING Wee County families have been empowered in their battle to fight the cost of living crisis to the sum of £217,867 in savings.

Clackmannanshire Citizens Advice Bureau's Local Energy Advice Project (LEAP) was set up to tackle fuel poverty in 2019 and has provided a consistent service for Clacks households over the past few years.

The initiative sought to provide advice and support on energy issues, chiefly to vulnerable people and year-round for the first time, it coincided with major events that shaped the energy market, such as Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine.

It was aimed at empowering people to manage their energy bills and consumption, through debt write-off or reductions, applying to the Warm Home Discount, and advising clients on benefits available to them,

And across its operating period, from 2019 to mid-2023, the service found that 1,700 households had shared a saving of £217,867.

A report published in July on the project is now hoping to help inform policy, highlighting the struggles vulnerable people face in contacting suppliers or being engaged with the energy market.

Managing director Jonny Miller said: “Even during the summer, and especially in the last year with the price hikes, it's actually been very beneficial to have a year-round project, a dedicated resource 12 months a year.

“We had other resources such as fuel vouchers – it was a good holistic project that offered advice on everything from home efficiency to energy prices, fuel debts, additional benefit entitlements – it was available 12 months a year, that's been the big benefit.”

In 2020, there was a 57 per cent increase in specialist energy advice given with an estimated 27 per cent of households already believed to be in fuel poverty in 2018.

The social policy report, which will be sent to the wider Citizens Advice Scotland network, highlighted several barriers in accessing the energy market.

It was found people in the 35-64 age group were most likely to be actively engaged with the market but younger adults were considered to be a vulnerable group.

Kirsty Davies, LEAP project worker, explained how a number of clients were struggling to get a hold of energy suppliers.

She said: “We could get through a wee bit quicker than the clients could. It does take a lot of stress off them.”

In a survey, the vast majority of those who used the service rated it “very good” or “good”.

In addition, around 80 per cent reported they now felt empowered to manage their energy effectively and around the same reported an improvement in mental health.

While LEAP has concluded, Clacks CAB is now running its Safe & Warm Advice Service, funded by SGN.

The bureau is also looking for volunteers to serve as advisers, administrators or even board members with training and ongoing support on offer.

For more, visit clackscab.org.uk/volunteer.