MORE than half of a £1 million fund to help people with their winter energy bills has been dished out.

The East Lothian Energy Fund was set up at the end of last year in a bid to help people with rising costs due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The scheme, established by Community Windpower, Advice Direct Scotland and East Lothian Council, has helped more than 900 individuals and families.

Councillor Norman Hampshire, East Lothian Council leader, felt that the initiative had been a success.

He said: “At a time when many households have been worried about heating their homes and the impact of other bills and rising costs, the energy fund has been providing vital support for people in East Lothian.

“It has been a welcome addition to the financial support available, coinciding with colder weather in the winter months, and complements council initiatives to support individuals and families who are financially vulnerable.

“We welcome the fact that £500,000 of support has now been provided as a result of this very effective partnership between Community Windpower, Advice Direct Scotland and East Lothian Council.”

The fund supports the most vulnerable people across the county.

More than 135 referral partners are on board, including housing associations, Haddington Citizens Advice Bureau, Marie Curie Scotland, Macmillan Cancer Care and BeGreen Dunbar.

Referral partners can guide individuals through the application process if required, although most applications to date have been direct from individuals and households.

Those on means-tested benefits and those with a terminal illness can qualify for the fund, and may be eligible for additional payments.

Following a successful application, payments can be made directly to an individual’s energy supplier or in the form of vouchers for pre-payment meters.

Energy suppliers have directly received thousands of pounds from the fund to cover the costs of the higher winter bills.

Enhanced payments using cash-out vouchers are also provided in some cases to individuals and families, providing the East Lothian Energy Fund with greater flexibility in how it supports vulnerable people with their escalating energy and living costs.

Anouska Woods, community co-ordinator at BeGreen Dunbar, has been fielding applications directly at the BeGreen Advice Centre on Dunbar High Street.

She said: “We’ve seen a huge increase of people coming into the centre, asking about the fund or simply sharing their worries and concerns.

“This fund provides real financial help and is a pillar of emotional support at this difficult time; we are truly touched when people reach out to tell us how this support has improved their mental wellbeing.”

The fund is set to run until the end of next month, continuing to support the most vulnerable in East Lothian.

Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian, praised the organisations involved in the fund.

He said: “When the fund was first announced, I said it would be a game changer for the people in East Lothian, but I never imagined how vital it would be.

“The council and other referral partners have been able to utilise the fund to help over 900 families and individuals in East Lothian and, in particular, the most vulnerable.

“The fund has only been going for just over two months now and has awarded over £500,000; the difference it has made is simply staggering.”