The Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme aims to support energy consumers in vulnerable situations

Charitable organisations who fight fuel poverty are being urged to apply for a share of a £2.5m funding pot.

The Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme is funded by payments made by energy companies found to be in breach of Ofgem rules.

More than £280,000 was distributed to charities in the first tranche of funding, with six organisations benefiting. Successful bids included a scheme that encourages good energy behaviours through cooking, a pilot to test heating controls for the visually impaired and a project to install a district heating system.

The Energy Saving Trust, which was appointed by Ofgem to manage distribution of the funds to eligible charitable organisations, has announced that applications will be accepted for the next round of funding from 15 October.

Mike Thornton, group director of operations at the trust, said: “This is a significant pot of money and we’re looking forward to welcoming applications from across the country that can help deliver benefits to energy consumers.

“The overarching aim of the Energy Redress Scheme is to distribute available funds to support energy consumers in vulnerable situations and the development of products or services which will provide a benefit to certain groups of energy consumers.”

Charitable organisations interested in accessing funding when it becomes available are asked to register in advance on the scheme's website.