A SOMERSET charity has been given a new-year boost after receiving an £80,000 grant.

The money was handed to the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) in a round of awards from the Energy Saving Trust, which redistributes voluntary payments from UK energy companies.

The successful projects include delivering energy advice to vulnerable households, working with the health sector to support people at risk from cold damp homes, installing innovative heat networks and developing new software to enable low income households to purchase discounted energy generated locally.

The CSE is an independent charity which aims to reduce carbon emissions through advising households and empowering people to change the way they think about energy.

The grant will help the charity work with 2,000 vulnerable households and landlords to provide advice on energy bills and on improving the energy efficiency of rented properties.

Mike Thornton, group director of operations at the Energy Saving Trust, said: “This significant pot of money is being invested in projects and charities that really make a difference in local communities.

"Most of the projects will run for the next two years and will result in thousands of households saving energy, money and living in warmer, more efficient homes.”