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20 June 06 Louise Smith, Ormlie Community Association’s Project Manager for Renewable Energy, said, “We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to join the ranks of excellent projects that Scottish Power’s Energy People Trust have funded as part of their commitment to end fuel poverty. Our Energy SOS Project was established last year and has grown from strength to strength thanks to the commitment of staff, volunteers, partners and funders. It is one arm of the Caithness Energy Advice Project, the other being energy efficiency and renewables research in conjunction with Pentland Housing Association. The funding received helps us to retain existing staff as well as create new posts which will be advertised shortly. This means that Ormlie Community Association can continue in its work to help the wider Caithness community by giving free energy advice to householders county wide. The funding takes the project through two further winter seasons of house visits, up to the end of March 2009.” Funding to establish the project has previously been received from Communities Scotland’s Scottish Community Action Research Fund, from the European Social Fund and HIE via the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), part of North Highland College, and from Global XChange for energy efficiency products. The ERI had placed two students with Ormlie Community Association, both on work placement under their renewable energy initiative, up to 30 April this year. Louise added,”It was this local educational initiative that has provided the firm foundation on which to build the Caithness Energy Advice Project. We are particularly grateful two our two students, Sharon Pottinger and Alison Middlemas, whose efforts have resulted in this great result for the Caithness community.”
The project’s move to a dedicated office was supported by Pentland Housing Association, with office furniture and equipment from HomeAid Caithness (who provide essential household furniture and electrical items to low income people in Caithness and Sutherland, and support community initiatives) and UKAEA. Energy SOS is now based in the Cottage on Davidson’s Lane, Thurso, and the project can be contacted by phoning 896524 or alternatively through the Ormlie Centre on 893486, or by email to: [email protected] OCA’s Energy SOS project is working in partnership with, and would like to thank the following organisations for their continued support and excellent working relationships: North Highland College OCA has also received energy efficiency products
for distribution through the project from the following: Free training has been provided by Community Action for Energy and the Highland Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. Energy People Trust is a trust that is administered by, but makes decisions independently of, ScottishPower |
