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RSABI is a unique Scottish charity dedicated to the relief of hardship and poverty
amongst people who have depended for their livelihoods on the land.
Why are we doing this?
Everything raised on this challenge will go towards a fund to help combat fuel poverty this winter. Even before this summer’s horrific rise in the prices of electricity, gas and heating oil, a significant proportion of the charity’s beneficiaries lived in fuel poverty, spending more than 10% of their income on heating and lighting costs. Indeed many live in extreme fuel poverty due to the combination of their age or infirmity, their restricted activity, old poorly insulated housing stock and remote location affecting fuel delivery cost/options. All too many suffer silently, wear layer upon layer of clothing and are afraid of switching on their heating in fear of the bills that might follow...a harsh lifestyle after decades of hard work on the land. Government offers of help to some to provide insulation and double glazing will not help keep people warm this winter; practicalities and timetables will simply not permit it. People on low and fixed incomes, such as the elderly and disabled, need help with everyday heating costs…not just when Cold Weather Payments, albeit increased, are triggered by prolonged cold spells. Over the past two winters we have operated a fund to help such people, with support from ScottishPower Energy People Trust, but this is not a continuing arrangement and we are looking to fund the inevitable demand this year from a number of different initiatives, of which Plough Scotland is one. In addition to helping existing beneficiaries, being able to advertise such help is a good way of attracting otherwise proud and reluctant individuals to contact the charity for help.
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