Energy Action Scotland Fuel Poverty Awards 2021


We’re delighted to announce that Cosy Kingdom Project Manager Bruce McCall won the “Exceptional People, Exceptional Times” award at the recent Energy Action Scotland Fuel Poverty conference.

This year Energy Action Scotland wanted to recognise and share the contribution made by exceptional individuals who went above and beyond to help vulnerable people and communities during Covid-19. Bruce was up against some amazing people nominated from organisations across the whole of Scotland.

Bruce was nominated for his work leading Greener Kirkcaldy’s energy advice team and coordinating the Cosy Kingdom partnership, supporting those in Fuel poverty across Fife.

At the start of the pandemic, Bruce mobilised our Cosy Kingdom team to support those needing support by quickly and smoothly adapting from doing home visits to offering telephone advice instead. He was also successful in applying for extra funding to provide crisis support to people struggling across Fife.

The Cosy Kingdom team have helped more than 2,000 households over the course of the pandemic.

On receiving his award Bruce said: “I am extremely honoured to be put forward and receive this award. Although this was an individual award, I truly feel this is a team award. Without the hard work of the Greener Kirkcaldy and Cosy Kingdom teams, I would not have been recognised for my work in fuel poverty. Thank you to everyone involved for all of your amazing work supporting people in Fife this year. “

 

Our other nominees

We’d also like to recognise the two other staff members who were nominated at the awards – Admin Assistant Pat and Handyman Gary.

Pat took responsibility for ensuring the Cosy Kingdom service ran smoothly during the pandemic. Pat set up all the new systems that this required, including diverting telephone lines to ensure a seamless transition. Pat was also responsible for setting up some of our crisis support provision early on in the pandemic including a mobile phone project and our partnership with the Fuel Bank Foundation.

On her nomination Pat said: “Cosy Kingdom is a tight knit team of dedicated workers who always strive to go the extra mile when supporting people living in Fife.  It was lovely to be nominated for an individual award but I am just one of the many cogs in the Cosy Kingdom wheel.”

During the pandemic Gary provided a ‘reduced’ handy service to the most vulnerable households. He also helped deliver our crisis support, travelling across Fife to ensure people in crisis or those who were shielding were kept topped up and on supply, as well as supporting Greener Kirkcaldy’s Community Meals to Go, Community Fridge and Lang Toun Larder.

Gary said: “I’m very humbled to have been nominated for this award and delighted to know that Bruce has won. What Cosy Kingdom has achieved has definetly been a team effort. Bruce’s win highlights his excellent leadership of the project and the team.”