The Energy Challenge - Gordon Lowe

Gordon Lowe from Fife volunteers with the Energy Challenge run by CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteering Programme. He helps older people in his local community to save money on their energy bills, get access to the right benefits and keep warm in winter…

“I retired in 2006 from Fife Council where I worked as a certificated NHER Energy Officer.

Retirement can often throw you back in to the world with no real sense of purpose, no regular life pattern and no route map for the future. In many ways, being given the opportunity to extend what I had been trained to do whilst employed, but as a volunteer in my own community, helped to gradually ease me in to retirement relieving me of my initial concerns. I was able to maintain old networks and create new networking opportunities, but most importantly I have a sense of purpose with new goals and challenges to occupy my time.

Fuel poverty has increased considerably over the last year, much of this to do with the increase in costs of fuel. In Scotland it is estimated that we have 850,000 households in a 'fuel poor' situation, where people have to spend more than 10% of their 'disposable' income on heating their home. Every day people are making choices whether to 'Eat or Heat', a sad state of affairs in this day and age. I am pleased that I can do my bit to help alleviate these problems and bring 'affordable warmth' in to the home.

CSV RSVP really can offer help across a wide spectrum of poverty issues and I would encourage those in society who have the time, to take time to help others through volunteering.

It is only through volunteering do you truly see the enormity of the benefits that volunteers bring to our society, well-being, health, happiness and sense that someone cares.”

To join Gordon and 15,000 other CSV Retired and Senior Volunteers, get in touch with your local group. Just click through to the map and look for the orange pins. Alternatively call CSV RSVP on 020 7643 1385.