The current cold snap servs as a reminder of the long winter months ahead, and that the pressures faced by many households and businesses in keeping their buildings warm show no signs of letting up.
During the current year, Scarf has received over 7000 enquiries and that’s up by 25% from 2023/24. We’ve also completed more home visits at just over 4,900 and trebled the amount of actual fuel bill savings created to just over £176,322.
In our 40th anniversary year, we are, of course, pleased to have helped so many people in the area but we are acutely aware that there is an incredible amount of work still to do and we know that our services will once again be in sharp demand throughout this winter and beyond. It is, therefore, vital to remind people of the help and advice we offer to anyone looking to reduce their costs and carbon emissions.
Our recent announcement that we have facilitated over £10.5million of Energy Company Obligation (ECO) funding being spent in the North-east was an important milestone for us in demonstrating how important Scarf’s work is, and that more people are aware of what we do. Even since that announcement the total has climbed again and now sits at £13.3million. In stark contrast, however, these figures are a warning of the extent of the problems faced by people running businesses and homes in a lengthening and deepening cost of living crisis.
ECO is a UK government energy efficiency scheme which is led by the private sector to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. With over 2,278 cost and carbon reducing measures already installed across the North-east, it is estimated that over £1.1million of annual bill savings have been achieved and over 5,500 tonnes of carbon saved annually.
Amidst this backdrop, we hosted our Empower Aberdeen event in October, an idea I conceived to address pressing community needs. Supported by Vital Energi, Poverty Alliance, and Aberdeen City Council Community Planning, the day—which is believed to be the only event of its kind in the area—brought together not-for-profit and third-sector organisations and professionals. They provided a wide range of advice, covering energy efficiency, finances, housing, food banks, neurodiversity awareness, and wellbeing. The success of this initiative has inspired us to move forward with plans to hold it again as part of Scarf’s landmark 40th anniversary celebrations in 2025.
Scarf is a registered charity and social enterprise that works in partnership with local and national government and other third sector organisations to deliver a range of services to householders, communities and businesses throughout the North-east of Scotland. Founded in 1985, the organisation operates from offices in Aberdeen and Dundee and offers free, impartial energy saving advice to help lower fuel bills and carbon emissions. To find out more, visit www.scarf.org.uk