Scarf
Supporting vulnerable Aberdeen families to stay safe and warm at home
Our project at a glance
- Strategic priority area: Targeting geographic communities most at risk of fuel poverty
- Support target: 1,300 households over two years
- Duration: April 2024 to March 2026
- Investment: £83,234 over two years
- Forecast SROI: £1.61
Why we’re working together
Despite its perception as an affluent oil capital, Aberdeen ranks as the 13th most deprived of all 32 local authority areas in Scotland and third highest in terms of unemployment rates.
Before the pandemic, 26% of households in Aberdeen were living in fuel poverty. With the post-pandemic economic challenges, fuel cap increases and the cost-of-living crisis, it’s now estimated that the number of Aberdeen households in fuel poverty may be as high as 40%.
We’ve partnered with social enterprise Scarf on a two-year programme to link fuel poor households in Aberdeen with Safe and Warm energy experts.
This support will help Aberdeen residents to use energy more efficiently, maximise household incomes and stay safe and warm in their homes. We also aim to build a network of partners to provide multiple levels of support specific to the needs of fuel poor households and their families, in particular those with young children.
Project objectives
- Educating Aberdeen households on how to use energy more efficiently
- Helping residents to access energy improvements for their home
- Supporting residents to maximise their household income
- Raising awareness of gas and carbon monoxide safety
- Helping eligible households to sign up for the Priority Services Register
How we’re working together
One-on-one energy advice
Our Safe and Warm Home Energy Advisers provide in-depth and bespoke energy advice to households across Aberdeen, through home visits, telephone support and email advice.
By educating households on how to use energy more efficiently and maximise their household income, we aim to help alleviate the financial burdens faced by households living in fuel poverty.
Through multiple marketing initiatives, we’re targeting our support towards families with children in the most deprived areas of Aberdeen, who are most at risk of living in a cold and unhealthy home.
How to get involved
Accessing the Aberdeen HEAT service
As one of our VCMA network partners, you can refer your clients in Aberdeen for free energy advice by getting in touch with the team by email at heat@scarf.org.
If you live in Aberdeen and would like help to heat your home for less, you can arrange a free home visit on the Scarf website.
Becoming a Scarf partner
You can find out more about working with Scarf through the organisation’s website.
Our partnership with SGN has been truly invaluable. Their funding has enabled us to support thousands of households who are experiencing fuel poverty. However, the value of this relationship goes far beyond financial support.
SGN brings expert insight and complementary campaigns that strengthen the reach and impact of our work, allowing us to deliver even greater value to the communities we serve. A standout example is the integration of services such as the Priority Services Register and the provision of carbon monoxide monitors. These were new additions for us, but they are now seamlessly embedded into the work of our frontline teams.