New figures reveal that almost 8,000 households in the East End of Glasgow are entitled to some form of assistance with their fuel bills. That help is worth an average of £250 per household and a free helpline is available for more information.

Drawing attention to the campaign, SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Shettleston, John Mason, said:

“Some 7,800 homes in the East End are entitled to some form of support, so I am pleased to be promoting this campaign as we head into what could be a harsh winter.

“Anyone who is concerned about staying warm should call the Home Heat Helpline and seek advice. I would also ask people to look out for neighbours, friends or relatives who may be in difficulty and make sure that they are aware of the Home Heat Helpline.”

“The number for the Home Heat Helpline is 0800 33 66 99 or you can visit the website, www.homeheathelpline.org.uk. It is a free service that provides independent advice to people on low incomes on how to get help with their gas and electricity bills as well as other help such as grants for insulation or a new boiler.”

Christine McGourty from the Home Heat Helpline also advises people to think about what they can do around the home to reduce their energy consumption. Commenting, she said:

“As well as calling the Home Heat Helpline to find out what financial assistance is available there are some other simple steps people can take. For example:

• turn radiators down in rooms which you only use occasionally
• switch your lights off when you’re not using them
• turn appliances like TVs and phone chargers off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby when they’re not being used
• replace normal light bulbs with energy efficient ones
• regularly defrost your freezer to make sure it’s operating at full efficiency
• draw curtains over windows at night to provide insulation for the room
• move furniture away from radiators and heaters to allow heat to circulate around the room
• open internal doors of any rooms which get more sun than others and let the warm air travel around your home”