Supporting families in Stobswell West

How Dundee International Women’s Centre and Home Energy Scotland work together

Over six months, Home Energy Scotland’s North East team delivered regular energy advice drop ins at Dundee International Women’s Centre as part of the Local Fairness Initiative in Stobswell West. These sessions gave residents simple, practical support - helping them understand heating controls, reduce their energy use, and find help with rising bills. 

As the partnership has grown, Home Energy Scotland has also been supporting Dundee International Women’s Centre staff. We’ve delivered a save energy at home session for employees, giving them the knowledge and confidence to share energy saving advice with the community. Stobswell West’s project outreach worker, Chloe Munro, also joined one of our advisor meetings to share an overview of their services, which helped strengthen relationships and made referrals smoother.

"The partnership that we have with Home Energy Scotland has been invaluable in co-ordinating support with people attending our sessions who need advice and information. Working together has strengthened our ability to connect families with essential energy advice and support for families in the community.

In addition, our team has been supported by the save energy at home session which gave staff information and tips to share with our service users. 

Having advisors from Home Energy Scotland available during our multi-agency family support sessions has increased accessibility for individuals who are digitally excluded or have language barriers. As a result, more families can access support in their community if they are concerned about electricity and gas, learn more about saving energy, or want to know more about options for their home."

– Chloe Munro, Project and Outreach Worker, Dundee International Women’s Centre

What our partnership with Dundee International Women’s Centre has achieved so far 

Our partnership with Dundee International Women’s Centre has helped engage families who may not otherwise use advice services. The drop ins have opened new conversations, allowing people to get advice in a setting that feels familiar and supportive. Staff training has also extended the reach of energy saving messages, enabling Dundee International Women’s Centre to confidently signpost and share information with the people they support. 

The strengthened relationship between both teams has made referrals smoother and increased the visibility of available help - ensuring that more residents can access free, impartial advice at the right time. 

"The partner relationship has grown in strength over the last few years. Working closely with Dundee International Women’s Centre has ensured support provided is coordinated and inclusive. It has been an invaluable partnership in helping us meet the needs of people and communities who were previously unable to access the Home Energy Scotland advice service. We look forward to continuing and strengthening our relationship with Dundee International Women’s Centre."

– Laura Head, Community Partnership Officer, Home Energy Scotland

Next steps and learnings 

We’re now exploring ways to make the collaboration even stronger. This includes setting Dundee International Women’s Centre up on the Home Energy Scotland referral portal, which will streamline referrals and make it even easier for families to access support. 

A key learning from this partnership has been the value of working through trusted community organisations. Hosting sessions where people already feel welcome helps us reach households who may face barriers to seeking help elsewhere.

Home Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government. We’re here to help people across Scotland save energy, reduce bills and access funding for home improvements - and partnerships like this are vital in reaching the communities that benefit most. 

If your organisation would like to work with us, we’d love to hear from you. Contact our team today