During 2025/26, partners worked together to tackle fuel poverty and its wider impacts through the Health, Energy and Resilience Team (HEART). Delivered through a collaboration between Fife Council, St Andrews Environmental Network and the Health and Social Care Partnership, the initiative brings together energy, welfare and wellbeing support to help residents stay warm, healthy and financially secure.

Fuel poverty remains a significant challenge across North East Fife, particularly in rural areas where older housing, higher energy costs and limited access to services can increase vulnerability. Demand for support is growing, particularly among owner occupiers and private renters, highlighting the need for a flexible and inclusive approach that reaches those most at risk.

The HEART model takes a preventative, data-led approach, using fuel poverty indicators to identify households in need of support at an early stage. A key strength of the programme is its structured three-tier pathway, designed to provide the right level of support at the right time. This includes community outreach and initial triage, one-to-one energy and wellbeing advice, and specialist welfare support to maximise income and improve longer-term outcomes.

What sets the approach apart is its joined-up delivery. Residents are supported through a single, coordinated journey, with warm referrals between teams and same-day triage where possible. This ensures that energy advice, health support and financial guidance are delivered in a holistic way, helping people address multiple challenges at once rather than navigating services separately.

The impact of the programme highlights both its reach and effectiveness. Over 2,300 people have been supported, with a significant proportion experiencing fuel poverty or extreme fuel poverty. Activity has included energy advice appointments delivering financial benefits, community outreach events and increased referrals between partner organisations. This coordinated approach has strengthened collaboration while improving access to support for residents.

Early results show strong partnership working in practice, with referral numbers exceeding initial targets and a growing number of community engagement events delivered. While progress has been shaped by staffing capacity, the level of demand and engagement demonstrates the clear need for integrated services of this kind.

The project directly supports the Plan for Fife priority of tackling poverty and preventing crisis. It also contributes to ambitions around reducing health inequalities and ensuring public services work together to act ‘one step sooner’. By addressing the links between cold homes, financial hardship and poor health, the initiative helps prevent issues escalating and supports more resilient communities.

Looking ahead, partners will explore opportunities to expand the geographic focus of the programme to better reflect patterns of demand and ensure support reaches those most in need. Continued development of the HEART model, alongside increased awareness and engagement activity, will help strengthen its impact and support more households across Fife to stay warm, well and financially secure.