An Aberdeen social enterprise has been recognised with a special award for its approach to tackling fuel poverty across the north-east.
Scarf established the Energy Champions project to help people who have been out of work by training them as energy advisors capable of delivering advice sessions within their local communities.
Working with Aberdeenshire Council and the European Social Fund, the project has now been awarded a runners-up prize of £1,000 from the Energy Impact Awards for its innovative approach to tackling the scourge of fuel poverty in some of the most deprived towns in Aberdeenshire.
The awards are organised by National Energy Action and sponsored by Centrica, owners of Scottish Gas.
Scarf Energy Champions project coordinator Emma Paterson said she was “delighted” with the award.
She said: “Energy Champions was created to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community find a pathway back to work and also to help us find people in their communities who need our support, but who would traditionally choose not to seek out this help.
“To receive this award is both unexpected and great recognition for the programme.”
The project has so far trained 20 energy champions in towns across Aberdeenshire, including Peterhead, Banff, Fraserburgh and Turriff.
Some have since moved on to paid employment, while others have taken up volunteering opportunities to build confidence before returning to work.
More information on Energy Champions and Scarf can be found at www.scarf.org.uk.