| group/org | Fuel Poverty Campaign |
| submitted by | Ann Lynch |
Community Activism on Fuel Poverty in Clydebank
Ann Lynch one of the community activists working with the Poverty Alliance is a leading a community campaign against fuel poverty entitled Campaign 250. Ann is a member of the Community Activists Advisory Group (CAAG), a newly formed forum of different community activists in Scotland who will be working very closely with the Poverty Alliance in developing a consistent strategy for engagement with grassroots based organisations on poverty. Ann currently works with Clydebank independent Resource Centre as a Volunteer Welfare Rights Adviser.
On Thursday 19th November, a series of public meetings were held at Dalmuir C.E Centre to highlight the campaign with Ann at the helm. Ann says, “ We freeze and can’t heat our homes while six private gas and electricity companies made £7bn combined profits last year alone”
It was argued that in the 21st century Scotland, millions of people including babies, children and families are living in homes that they cannot afford to heat. It is further estimated that one third of older people live in ONE room in the winter to keep warm.
The campaign pointed out that 5 Million people in the UK use pre-payment meters because of they are unable to cope with the huge increases in gas and electricity. While, pre – payment meters are intended to help people budget for fuel bills, especially for those on low income, unfortunately they are expensive to run as they immediately cut off after the emergency £5 top up is used. The worst part is failure to top up, even for a day or two leads to ones electricity supply being cut off leaving one without any access to heating, lights and cooking. One can only wonder how people living in poverty can cope during winter.
It is unbelievable that any human being is left without, what is after all a natural resource. Scotland is rich with oil and water and other natural resources, and yet its population who live on low income suffer from fuel poverty. This would not be tolerated in other oil rich countries and this exploitation must stop.
Adapted from Campaign 250 leaflet Dec 2009 by Twimukye.