Gavin Newlands MP meets with LEAP Energy Champions

Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has visited the Local Energy Action Plan (LEAP) in Bridge of Weir to find out more about the work that they’re doing to help lift people out of fuel poverty.

LEAP is a community project funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Change fund and offers free impartial advice to help households reduce their energy use and fuel bills. LEAP support community renewable energy generation, local schools, young people’s activities, local food initiatives and also operates the LEAP Car Club, a not-for-profit community car hire scheme.

Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:

“I would like to thank Scott and Jen for taking the time to meet with me and speak about the range of work that they do in our local villages to help combat fuel poverty and reduce household energy bills.

“LEAP are rooted at the heart of the community and it’s clear that they are trusted to help deliver the services that they offer to local people. As well as offering free impartial advice, they can help make homes warmer through completing free home energy checks. This includes completing a free draught test or conducting a thermal image test on the property to help identify areas where heat is escaping.

“The staff at LEAP are ambitious about the future and they’re keen to extend their service to other parts of Renfrewshire. I look forward to supporting the organisation in any way that I can.”

Jen O’Brien, LEAP Depute Project Manager, said:

“The feedback from people we support to make a difference in their own homes is that, it makes it more affordable to run the home and cosy to live in.  It is a significant change for some people who were living in cold, draughty, expensive to heat homes.”

Scott Duncan, LEAP Project Manager, said:

“It is amazing to see the difference that people can make to their homes and lives with a little help from a team who are dedicated and have the expertise while also having a real desire to help people.  The opportunity to tackle fuel poverty is a key focus for LEAP, while we always have our eye open for ways to fund the work that we do and make it sustainable into the future”

“We would like to thank Gavin Newlands MP for coming to learn more about the LEAP projects and the lessons we have learned from delivering a range of projects since 2010 including our work in Energy Efficiency, Business Switching, YEP! and ReMode Youth Programmes, Waste Reduction, Low Carbon Transport and Community Engagement and Learning”