Oban charity marks 25th anniversary with call for greater support for those living in fuel poverty

Award-winning Oban-based charity ALIenergy is celebrating a quarter of a century with a call for greater support for those living in fuel poverty across Argyll and Bute and the Highlands.

The sustainable energy charity will be celebrating its anniversary in Oban on the 25th September, and revered environmentalist Ashok Sinha will be one of the keynote speakers. Sinha is the CEO of Ashden, an organisation that boosts climate innovation in the UK and the global south, as well as being the chair of the London Sustainable Chair Commission.

Argyll and Bute MP, Brendan O’Hara will also be speaking at the event.

The charity will use the celebratory event to highlight its progress and to reiterate the unacceptable number of people in the region still living in fuel poverty, some of the highest in the UK

It will make a call for the greater use of social energy tariffs and rebates, which will provide direct relief to the most vulnerable households.

Figures from the House of Commons Library reveal that around a third of households in Argyll and Bute (32.2%) are in fuel poverty, with 19% living in extreme fuel poverty, and for the Highlands, this figure is 32.9% and 21.5%. This is against a Scottish average of 24.4% and 11.9% respectively. ¹

The charity will be urging eligible households in Argyll and Bute and the Highlands to take advantage of the UK Government’s Warm Home Discount, which can obtain a discount of £150 on a household’s energy bill. ALIenergy’s advisors can also assist with applications to numerous other grants and schemes, and provide advice on a range of home energy-related topics to help increase resilience to fuel poverty in the future.

This winter will be particularly tough for Scots heating their homes, with the price cap set to rise on October 1, meaning the average annual price will rise by about £35 per home when compared with last year.

The 25th Anniversary of the charity has been celebrated with motions in both Westminster and Holyrood. Links to the full text of the motions can be found in the notes to the editor.

ALIenergy CEO, Lynda Mitchell said,

“We are delighted to be marking our 25th year. The event will celebrate our work as a charity and intends to raise the profile of the very real issue of fuel poverty in Argyll and Bute and the Highlands.

“On a daily basis, we assist people who have to make the terrible choice between eating and heating their homes, and with winter on the way and the energy price cap set to increase yet again, this issue must be addressed by the UK Government and leading energy companies.

“Much of the region we operate in is off the gas grid, and residents are often paying up to four times more for their heating.

“To address this, we are calling for greater use of social energy tariffs and rebates in aiding the most vulnerable in our society and taking people out of fuel poverty.

“I hope our event will send a message to residents living in fuel poverty across these regions and Scotland as a whole, that they are not alone.”

Brendan O’Hara MP added:

“ALIenergy undertakes exceptional work in the local community, and I wish them all the best for the next quarter of a century. I look forward to attending their anniversary event and encourage my constituents to make the most of their services.”

Roxy Malik, Argyll and Bute Resident who lives in fuel poverty

“My long-term conditions and the energy crisis are having a huge impact on my physical, psychological and mental health and wellbeing.

“I end up leaving bills, bank statements, important letters and emails unopened because I’m so concerned – how much will I have to pay and how can I pay it? It becomes very daunting and overwhelming. Especially when you’ve been independent and worked hard all your life. It’s hard.

“A social tariff seems like a fairer way of doing things; it accounts for what a person needs, such as their health and medical needs. If it could take away the unjust cost of standing charges when you aren’t even using power, that would be brilliant.”