The Network, made up of Berwickshire Housing Association (BHA), Eildon Housing Association (EHA), Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) and Waverley Housing (WH), has secured £100k from the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Fuel Support Fund which is administered by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA). The funding aims to provide practical support to tenants of social landlords to mitigate fuel poverty, and to help them to manage, or reduce, their fuel costs.

The money has been used to purchase energy efficient items including electric throws, thermal curtains, air fryers, radiator panels, LED light bulbs and draught excluders. The curtains, draught excluders and radiator panels will help to minimise heat loss from the home, while air fryers provide an energy-efficient option for cooking as well as promoting healthier eating.

Colleagues from across the Borders Housing Network have begun distributing these items, targeting those in greatest need. It is expected that around 1,350 tenants will benefit.

These practical measures add to the affordable warmth support offer already provided by the social landlords’ tenants across the Scottish Borders, which includes help with fuel debt, vouchers for prepayment meters and advice on managing bills.

One tenant from Jedburgh commented: “I’ve been sitting in the living room during the day with the curtains closed and no heating on – the electric throw will make all the difference in me staying warm. And the draught excluder will help keep the cold away from my old terrier!” 

All of the participating Registered Social Landlords say that they are delighted to have secured this funding, which has come at the perfect time to allow the network to provide much-needed additional support before winter really takes hold.

SBHA’s chief executive Julia Mulloy said: “Being able to band together as a network has meant that we’ve made a great case to funders for our tenants in the Borders and had some real negotiating power with the suppliers of these winter items – meaning we’ve been able to stretch the money further, getting more for less.  It’s been a huge partnership effort to order, store and deliver the thousands of items, and we must say a big ‘thank you’ to our friendly local branch of Jewson’s in Galashiels who have helped with the logistics.

“BHN has worked together to make sure that Borders tenants continue to feel the benefit of the current funding available for fuel support, successfully applying for support in each of the rounds of funding since it was announced. We have helped 100s of tenants with their bills, whether that’s fuel debt or with top-up vouchers for prepayment. The network’s key message is that, if you are a tenant and have any questions or concerns about debt, please get in touch as we may be able to help.”