South Lanarkshire Council
Empowering 3,000 South Lanarkshire residents to use energy safely, efficiently and affordably
Our project at a glance
- Strategic priority area: Targeting geographic communities most at risk of fuel poverty
- Support target: 3,000 households over one year
- Duration: December 2024 to November 2025
- Investment: £57,765 over one year
- Forecast SROI: £15.33
Why we’re working together
Fuel poverty continues to be a stubborn problem that blights many households across Scotland, including in South Lanarkshire.
The Money Matters Advice Service is a free and confidential service that helps people living in South Lanarkshire or working for South Lanarkshire Council claim benefits and deal with debt.
As a direct impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, South Lanarkshire Council has seen a significant increase in demand for its services, particularly relating to money, energy and welfare benefit advice.
We’ve partnered with South Lanarkshire Council to increase capacity of the Money Matters Advice Service to help more vulnerable residents use energy safely, efficiently and affordably.
Project objectives
- Providing 3,000 South Lanarkshire households with basic energy advice
- Supporting 300 households with in-depth tailored energy advice
- Supporting eligible households to sign up for the Priority Services Register
- Raising awareness of carbon monoxide safety and providing free CO alarms to households most at risk of CO harm
- Training 65 advisers on carbon monoxide safety and PSR awareness
How we’re working together
Community-based energy advice service
We’ve increased support for vulnerable households from the Money Matters Advice Service by embedding an additional energy adviser in the community. The new adviser, who will receive City and Guild training in Energy Awareness, supports weekly community hubs across South Lanarkshire offering energy safeguarding, energy advice, income maximation support and immediate help for households in energy crisis.
How to get involved
Accessing the Money Matters Advice Service
As one of our VCMA network partners, you can refer residents in South Lanarkshire to the Money Matters Advice Service through the South Lanarkshire Council website.
If you live in South Lanarkshire and need help with benefit, debt or energy issues, you can contact the Money Matters Advice Service by filling in an enquiry form on the South Lanarkshire Council website. You can also attend a Money Matters Community Hub.
Becoming a partner
You can find out more about supporting South Lanarkshire Council’s Money Matters Advice Service by emailing moneymatters.advice@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.
This partnership between the council’s Money Matters Advice Service and SGN will increase the availability of advice and assistance for South Lanarkshire’s residents who are struggling with rising energy bills and keeping their heating on this winter.