Ofgem has handed 31 charities and community groups more than £9m in grants through its Energy Redress Scheme.

The fund is backed though voluntary payments collected by the energy regulator from companies that breach its rules and will be used to fund programmes that help vulnerable households with their energy bills and to support carbon reduction.

Among those to benefit is Fife-based charity Greener Kirkcaldy, which has been handed £272,541 for its Connecting Communities project to support those with literacy challenges and facing digital exclusion.

"This funding will allow us to reach the households in Fife most vulnerable to the impacts of fuel poverty,” said the charity’s service delivery manager Bruce McCall.

“This will include people encountering language, numeracy or digital barriers, learning disabled people, and people who have difficulty engaging with digital technology and online services." 

Another is Community Action Northumberland, which has been awarded £303,993 for its Powering People project to help households in rural areas access sustainable energy and reduce their reliance on diesel generators.

Funding through the Energy Redress Scheme is managed by the Energy Saving Trust.

“This funding, which is a direct result of Ofgem’s enforcement and compliance work, shows that when energy companies fall short, we hold them to account and help deliver tangible support for those who need it most,” said Ofgem head of enforcement Russell Ogilvie.

“From tackling fuel poverty to backing innovative carbon-cutting projects, the Energy Redress Scheme continues to empower communities across Great Britain.

“It’s inspiring to see such a diverse range of organisations using this latest round of funding to make a real difference on the ground, particularly for those in vulnerable situations.”

Since 2018 the Energy Redress Scheme has distributed more than £181 million in funding to support 721 projects in England, Scotland and Wales.

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