New fund gives thousands of Inverclyde households help with heating bills

Advice Direct Scotland has teamed up with Inverclyde Council to deliver the fund, which is worth almost £400,000 and is aimed at those most in need.

The Inverclyde Heating Support Fund will give one-off grants of up to £200 to help households who meet certain criteria pay their energy bills during the colder months. A total of £382,200 has been set aside by Inverclyde Council’s Policy and Resources Committee for the fund, with Advice Direct Scotland commissioned to deliver it.

The initiative, which is now open for applications, will support around 2,500 working-age households. It was set up in response to growing concerns over the level of energy debt in the region.

These issues have been compounded by wider social and economic pressures, leaving many residents vulnerable to cold homes, power disconnection, and poor health.
 
The fund will be ‘cash-first’, with money paid directly into applicants’ bank accounts so they can put it to immediate use in bringing down the cost of their heating bills. Where appropriate, some applicants will be offered credit towards their utility bills instead, or a mixture of both cash and credit.

Applications can be made through multiple channels to ensure that nobody is excluded, including an online portal, by phone, or by using a paper form.
Customers can also be referred by partners such as Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership, East Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, and other local organisations.

Advice Direct Scotland, which already runs the Scotland-wide energyadvice.scot service, will manage application processing, eligibility checking, payments, and reporting.

Support ranges from £100 for single-adult households, £150 for households with two or more adults, and £200 for households with dependent children.

Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to help people across the whole of Inverclyde. We welcome this partnership with Inverclyde Council, which will help alleviate some of the financial challenges faced by many in the area.

“By working together, we can help alleviate some of the financial pressures that so many individuals and families are currently facing.

“The cost-of-living crisis has had a profound impact on households across the area, and we know that even small interventions can have a significant effect. Through this partnership, we hope to reach those who are most in need, and ensure they have access to the right advice, services and financial assistance.

“This is about building resilience within our communities. We believe that by coming together with local authorities and other partners, we can deliver meaningful change and help people to thrive. This is a commitment to the people of Inverclyde. We’re determined to make it count.”
 
Councillor Robert Moran, Inverclyde Council’s convener of policy and resources, said: “We know how challenging winter can be for people with rising costs, especially fuel costs, and we’re committed to supporting the most vulnerable in society.

“The new Inverclyde Heating Support Fund will ensure those who are eligible can access support quickly with a one-off grant.

“We’re pleased to be teaming up with Advice Direct Scotland, who have vast experience supporting people, and will work closely with applicants to ensure the application process is as smooth as possible.”