Vulnerable families in South Ayrshire living in temporary accommodation have benefited from a vital service thanks to a funding lifeline.

Barnardo's Scotland's South Ayrshire Families Service received a £30,000 grant from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust last year to fund a year-long initiative, which aimed to help minimise the stress and difficulties homeless families, or those faced with homelessness, can experience.

The project celebrated its success by hosting the latest meeting of the Trust on September 1 at the Barnardo’s Scotland office in Ayr.

Ann Loughrey, ScottishPower's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and The ScottishPower Energy People Trust's Company Secretary, said: "It was great to visit the Barnardo’s Scotland South Ayrshire Families Service to hear first hand the positive effects the initiative has had on the community. The Trust would like to congratulate the team on the fantastic work it has carried out over the year.


"The families assisted through the project have been affected by poverty and many have been through a very difficult and traumatic time, so this funding is essential in making a difference to their lives."

The ScottishPower Energy People Trust was established in November 2005 to fund not-for-profit organisations that help vulnerable people including families, young people, the disabled and the elderly who need to spend more than 10% of their income on energy bills.

The grant funded a Housing Support Worker, who provided outreach assistance to families throughout their period of homelessness, while supporting them until they were fully resettled into their new tenancy and community.

The worker specialised in energy efficiency and offered assistance on how to maximise income and resources so that clients could manage their tenancy and have a sense of belonging to their community.

(GK/KMcA)