Energy Saving Trust has awarded £45,980 to ACE (Action in Caerau and Ely) – a community developed charity owned and run by the residents of Ely and Caerau in West Cardiff, which develops and delivers a range of projects to regenerate and improve the communities.

This funding is part of a wider grant from the Energy Saving Trust, which has awarded £291,795 to six charities based in England and Wales under Round Four of the Energy Redress Scheme – an initiative that redistributes voluntary payments from UK energy companies.

Today’s funding for ACE will see the charity work together with Care & Repair Cardiff and Vale to deliver energy advice to over 200 vulnerable households across Cardiff. The two organisations will work with the local health sector to support those at risk from cold related illnesses and use a mapping tool to target areas of high fuel poverty. The advice will be delivered via home visits, weekly drop in sessions in community venues and at community events.

Overall, funding from the Energy Redress Scheme will be used to deliver projects that provide support to vulnerable energy customers across Great Britain. The successful six charities have been awarded grants between £38,000 and £63,000.

Sam Froud-Powell, Community Support Coordinator, Action in Caerau and Ely commented:

“We are really happy to have been selected to receive an Energy Redress Award for our project. The funding will enable Action in Caerau and Ely (ACE) and Care and Repair Cardiff and the Vale to develop our collaborative work in supporting vulnerable households in fuel poverty.”

The successful projects all aim to help vulnerable energy consumers to save energy and money in their homes, with some focussing their work in specific neighbourhoods, whilst others help those in poor health or those who privately rent their homes. The fourth round of applications had 40 submissions from a wide variety of charities across England, Scotland and Wales, seeking over £2.6 million in funding.