Gary Maclean helps release pressure for families in fuel poverty

Gary Maclean helps release pressure for families in fuel poverty

Scotland’s national chef, Gary Maclean, is backing a new campaign to help families struggling with rising fuel bills by providing tasty ways of keeping costs down.

Masterchef: The Professionals champion, Gary, has teamed up with fuel poverty champions Energy Action Scotland, to supply energy efficient pressure cookers that could save families as much as 70% on their cooking bills.

So far Energy Action Scotland are working with four housing associations to identify families in need, but are on the look out to distribute more cookers to people living in fuel poverty.

Fuel poverty is defined by the Scottish Government as any household spending more than 10% of their income on energy – after housing costs have been deducted.

‘It is estimated that over 25% of households in the country are living in fuel poverty. To address this we need to be taking small steps as well as large ones, getting families to think about how and what they cook is one way of making a positive contribution to keeping bills down, putting more money in people’s pockets and improving health,’ said EAS’s chief executive, Frazer Scott.

Gary has come up with a few recipes families can try out using their new cookers and has recorded some lock-down cooking lessons that can be viewed online as well.

‘I am a big fan of cooking with a pressure cooker. They are great for keeping in flavour and reducing cooking time. I was shocked at the fuel poverty statistics, so was delighted to get involved with this campaign that will not only help families reduce their bills, but also gives me a chance to encourage them to cook healthier meals as well.’

The campaign is being supported by building contractor AC Whyte and Warmworks Scotland

Any social housing provider who thinks they have tenants who could benefit from a low energy pressure cooker should contact frazer.scott@eas.org.uk

Watch Gary’s pressure cooker cooking lessons

Easy Chicken Dinner           Easy Soup

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