Help for households facing fuel poverty as a result of the pandemic has been launched in the city.
The Fuel Well Dundee Programme will support people on a low income whether they are in or out of work, on reduced incomes as a result of Covid-19, or are already experiencing fuel poverty.
People may have heating systems or home insulation that is inadequate and causing high energy bills or are struggling with other financial or coronavirus related issues.
John Alexander leader of Dundee City Council said: “Winter is a difficult time for many people as they have some really tough financial choices to make as the temperature drops.
“This has been made so much worse this year by the effects on households of the pandemic, including reduced incomes or increased costs as a result of working from home.
“That’s why the council and its partners have created Fuel Well Dundee to discuss with people what types of support are available to help them with their specific fuel poverty needs.”
The scheme can help with top up payments of between £40 and £100 if certain criteria are met, as well as short, medium and longer-term support from fuel advisers and welfare rights advisers.
This can include other areas of financial inclusion including energy advice, a benefits check and debt advice; where appropriate, consideration of referral for Discretionary Hardship Payments or to the council’s Hardship fund; and crisis grants and community care grants advice.
Gabriel Calvert from local charity Making Dundee Home said “The service is fast and the staff are very supportive. The money provided allows people to stay warm, cook and take care of themselves.
“Hopefully the additional support provided will make a real difference in people's lives.”
Run by Dundee City Council and SCARF (Part of the Home Energy Scotland network) the Fuel Well Dundee Programme can either be accessed directly at https://dundeecity-self.achieveservice.com/service/Fuel_Well_Dundee or through referral by a partner organisation
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
