FAMILIES who face the stark choice between heating or eating are being helped with a new Glasgow Fuel Bank.
Foodbank provider The Trussell Trust has teamed up with energy firm NPower to offer those in need a fuel card so they can heat and light their homes.
People with a valid Glasgow South East Foodbank voucher can use it to repay emergency credit and top up their gas and electricity meter.
This lets households that have run out of energy get the power back on within a few hours and keep the lights and heating on for around two weeks.
Audrey Flannagan, who managed Glasgow South East Foodbank, and Norma Smart, a volunteer manager, said the scheme will make the world of difference to their clients.
Audrey said: "We make up cold bags for people without cooking facilities, which affects a high percentage of our clients.
"This scheme will make a big difference to the people who use our service. Really, it's the different between have hot soup for dinner or cereal."
Norma added: "I helped an elderly man recently who was lighting his flat with candles. This would allow him to switch the lights back on.
"It's helping people keep warm and see in their homes."
The scheme gives foodbank users with pre-payment meters vouchers for gas or electricity.
Because the scheme gives people around two weeks’ worth of energy, the value of the voucher will fluctuate between the winter and summer months.
From April to the end of October the value will be £30 and this will increase to £49 from November 1 to March 31.
Service user Florian Vasil came to Glasgow from Romania three years ago and worked in the new Queen Elizabeth University Hospital until he became too ill to work.
The 23-year-old said: "The foodbank is the difference between having something to eat and not having something to eat.
"Now people using the foodbank will be able to heat their food, have a hot shower, put on the TV, turn on the lights and put on the heating - all things people would take for granted.
"I don't have a word to explain how kind these people have been to me when I have used the foodbank.
"I hate to come here and I would always prefer to have another option but they never judge you. They remember who you are and they really care about your problems.
"They saved my life. They are the touch of God."
First launched in April 2015 with the Trussell Trust, National Energy Action (NEA) and Durham Christian Partnership, the NPower Fuel Bank has so far been trialled in four areas in England.
Glasgow’s South East Foodbank was set up in 2011. Between April 2015 and March 2016, it gave out 7415 three-day emergency food supplies to local people in crisis - 3406 of which were given to children.
Matt Cole, Head of Social Energy with NPower, said: "One of the reasons we chose this foodbank is that there is a high instance of fuel poverty here.
"The foodbank is very progressive and Audrey and her team were really up for making the Fuel Bank a service that really works for people at the time they need it to work for them.
"It can take three months and a 35 page document for people to get help. This is about getting people help within a few hours."
Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow South, was present at today's launch.
She said: "This is a service that is very much needed in this community. Fuel poverty is not going away and it's great to see an energy company say 'This is what we're going to do.'"
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