Professionals from a range of council services and partners including Cosy Kingdom, Fife NHS, Energy Action Scotland, and the Chartered Institute of Housing came together with the aims of sharing experience and reducing fuel poverty through improved partnership working.

Councillor Judy Hamilton, convener of Fife Council’s community and housing services committee, welcomed delegates and stressed the importance of working together to support Fifers who are suffering the effects of fuel poverty.

She said: “Fuel poverty is a very real issue for too many people. This Conference will help us make progress towards a time where people no longer have to make a choice between eating and heating. This is not just a housing issue - and it’s only through partnership working that we will make a difference to people’s lives.”

New legislation has produced ambitious targets to significantly reduce the number of people living in fuel poverty by 2040. The definition of fuel poverty has also been updated, which changes the way in which it is measured. The conference provided an opportunity to raise awareness of these changes to colleagues and partners.

Speakers from Energy Action Scotland, Chartered Institute of Housing and Fife Council encouraged discussion around future challenges including the new Fuel Poverty Act 2019, fuel poverty vs climate emergency and rural poverty.

The conference feedback will be used to form an action plan moving forward and will contribute to Fife’s Fuel Poverty Strategy which will be produced before the end of the year.