The Scarf Fuel Fund has delivered more than £1.1million in energy support to households across Scotland, helping prevent self-disconnection and support people facing acute financial hardship.
Running from December 2024 to December 2025, the fund supported over 7,600 households using prepayment meters who were at risk of running out of energy. This support was delivered in partnership with a growing referral network of over 300 organisations, including housing associations, charities, local authorities and advice services.
The fund is designed to provide fast, practical help to households who:
- Use prepayment meters
- Are at risk of self-disconnection
- Are experiencing financial hardship
Approved partners identify and refer eligible households, with Scarf managing the application and voucher process. This ensures a rapid response while keeping the administrative burden on frontline organisations to a minimum.
Dave Sims
Scarf has begun approving partners for the 2026 Scarf Fuel Fund and is now inviting new organisations to get involved. Partners can sign up directly using Scarf’s referral link or contact the team for more information.
Dave Sims, contracts & commercial manager at Scarf said: “Delivering over a million pounds of direct support in one year shows both the level of need and the effectiveness of this model. As we open the next phase of the fund, we want to build on that momentum with new partners, so that we can reach even more at-risk households.”
Organisations interested in becoming a referral partner can:
About Scarf
Scarf is a registered charity and social enterprise, founded in 1985, providing free, impartial energy advice across Scotland. Partnering with government, housing providers, charities and the private sector, Scarf tackles fuel poverty, improves energy efficiency and helps households access funding and retrofit solutions that cut bills and carbon emissions, with all profits reinvested for lasting social and environmental impact.
To find out more about Scarf, visit www.scarf.org.uk