A new £6m programme to support those living in fuel poverty across England has been launched by Groundwork*, a leading community charity and the Cadent Foundation**.

‘Stay Warm, Stay Well’ is a three-year programme that aims to provide much-needed help for households who are struggling with their energy bills. This will occur in conjunction with Groundwork Green Doctors, whose energy efficiency advisors will visit homes offering practical guidance on energy saving, behaviour change tips and referrals to other local support services, including debt advice and food banks.

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “This new funding from the Cadent Foundation couldn’t be coming at a more important time. Feedback from our Green Doctors is that they’re visiting an increasing number of people who are taking drastic measures to make ends meet – from skipping meals to living in permanently cold, damp homes – with many falling into debt. We’re also seeing more working people who are ineligible for government support but who still need advice on how to reduce their bills. We’re delighted that the Cadent Foundation can provide strategic, multi-year support for our Green Doctors, which will help us expand our service to more people and ensure we have a workforce able to meet growing demand.”

Throughout the three-year programme, over 14,500 consultations will take place in regions across England, with a particular focus on vulnerable households.

The programme is part of a new phase in Groundwork’s partnership with the Cadent Foundation, which has so far invested £3m in funding over 10,000 Green Doctor consultations carried out between 2020-23 across England.

Creation of new energy advisors

In addition to the Green Doctor support, the programme is also funding an initiative to support the creation of new energy advisors, via a 12-month traineeship opportunity, through the Green Doctor Academy. This scheme aims to create more accessible pathways into work, in particular for those who are unemployed or economically inactive, people with disabilities or individuals from an ethnically diverse background.

The impact has been incredible to witness

Julia Dwyer, Director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “The impact from our initial partnership which began in 2020, has been incredible to witness, particularly as the work of energy advisors has been vital throughout the cost-of-living crisis. We’ve learnt a lot throughout the first phase, which supported more than 10,000 households, but being able to fund the training of local people, to advise and guide their communities on energy efficiency and money management, is powerful. We truly believe that a solid knowledge of how to optimise the energy efficiency of a home is the key to alleviating fuel poverty in the long term and the next stage in our partnership will allow us to expand the programme even further, increasing our involvement and doubling the amount of funding to help even more families.”

Stay warm, stay well

Stay Warm, Stay Well will provide immediate need for support for households during the cost-of-living and continued energy crisis.

Insight from a recent Groundwork survey found that 94 per cent of Green Doctors reported supporting households that did not use their central heating at all, with 85 per cent saying they had worked with people cutting back on food or only eating cold meals.

One Green Doctor commented: “We’re seeing people choosing between which bills to pay and whether to eat meals, and many don’t even consider putting on the heating. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating. The energy crisis is far from over – there are so many people and families in urgent need of help.”

*Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. It supports communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all.

**The Cadent Foundation was established in July 2019 with Cadent committing one per cent of annual post-tax profits each year to the Foundation. It aims to help households find sustainable solutions to fuel poverty and ensure people are safe and warm in their homes. It works with charitable organisations to help households improve their financial well-being and become more energy efficient through advice, support and practical measures.