Matilda’s Blanket is the brainchild of social entrepreneur David Evans MBE who is investing millions of pounds of his own money into Matilda’s Planet, a ‘not for profit’ company which seeks innovative solutions for homes that are hard to heat.

With 649,000 households in Scotland living in fuel poverty, cold damp homes are an issue that cost the lives of six people in Scotland every day of winter. For every degree that the temperature drops under 5 degrees centigrade, under pressure health services see a 19% increase in GP appointments from older people with respiratory illness. The human cost of fuel poverty is a national priority which requires a range of solutions, especially when set against the relentless rise in fuel costs.

To meet this need and reduce the energy consumption in homes, Matilda’s Planet has created home insulation innovation Matilda’s Blanket. Understanding that many homes (especially in the stone and granite built North East) cannot be clad to the exterior, Matilda’s Blanket now provides a practical and tailored solution to homeowners and landlords with the minimum of disruption to householders.

Mr Stewart will be visiting the first of many facilities to be created in Scotland and meeting members of the workforce including individuals from the local area who have been struggling to find work and are being offered traineeships along with young people on work placements.

Owner David Evans MBE will talk about his focus on eradicating fuel poverty, improving local lives and creating employment including his vision of 50 similar facilities across the country providing a tailored insulation solution ‘built local by locals for locals’, accompanied by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councillors.

Commenting on Friday’s visit, Kevin Stewart MSP said: “I am delighted to be here today to open this new facility. Earlier this week the Scottish Government announced our new Energy Efficient Scotland programme, setting out our vision for all buildings in Scotland to be warmer, greener and more energy efficient. Innovative solutions offered by Matilda’s Planet Scotland will help us achieve that goal and we are thrilled to welcome them to Aberdeen. I welcome the work being done here and the investment in local people.”

David Evans said: “When my daughter Matilda was five, she told me to save the planet. A small request, but a noble goal to which I have devoted my time and resources. People need warm, dry, healthy homes, the planet needs us to be energy efficient and eco-friendly and Matilda’s Planet provides both.

“First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement on Wednesday of a Routemap to an Energy Efficient Scotland demonstrates the need for this innovation in home insulation. Working with government and social landlords, I will open fabrication facilities wherever they can benefit the local community.”