EAS secured funding from OVO via the Industry Initiatives strand of the Warm Home Discount to provide free training – Stay Warm Stay Well – to a wide range of front line workers throughout Scotland.
EAS targets organisations with a number of common aspects: they are engaged in looking after vulnerable or potentially vulnerable people; their staff work at the heart of their local communities; and they are trusted intermediaries. Such staff are ideally placed through their everyday work to engage with client groups that are particularly vulnerable, at risk and often difficult to reach.
The Stay Warm Stay Well project has two key aims:
- to improve understanding of domestic energy efficiency and the impact of fuel poverty and cold homes on vulnerable, low income households.
- to raise awareness of schemes, grants and other support mechanisms for energy efficiency improvements, creating an effective means for linking those in need with the help that is available.
SWSW has received funding during several previous years. Demand is always high and all of the courses fill very quickly. The feedback is excellent. Participants summed it up by saying:
“Very informative, very well delivered. Lots of information that will benefit me personally and be helpful to my client group”
“Very enlightening. I feel more of our staff would benefit from this”
“One of the most informative courses I have been on in a very long time”
“Very useful and informative training. I feel better equipped to assist clients now when they are struggling with bills and looking for ways to save money/further support”
By equipping frontline staff with the necessary knowledge to advise and support their clients on energy-related issues, the Stay Warm Stay Well project is helping to establish a more sustainable solution to many issues.