A nationwide programme, developed by Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, to confront cost of living challenges, has reached a major milestone, with the opening of its 200th Centre for Warmth.
The Centres for Warmth programme has delivered practical and hands-on support to thousands of low-income households since it was established in 2021 when living costs started to soar. Cadent has invested over £4.3m in the centres, which are located in community buildings across the UK and directly fund financial, benefit and energy experts to help local residents.
Thousands of customers, who have struggled to pay for essentials like food and energy bills, have received help and money management advice totalling over £325 million so far, with the average benefit/saving sitting at roughly £2,500. The announcement comes as insights from Cadent shows almost 7 in 10 (68%) low-income households are more worried about higher living costs than they were last year. As the UK endures another tough winter, Cadent is inviting more community centres in the UK to apply for funding. The money, provided by the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) and allocated to Cadent by Ofgem, is used to help people meet basic and immediate needs, whether it’s food, warmth or shelter. Cadent is also working to address long-term issues impacting communities, including both physical and mental health, employment, money-management and access to safe, adequate housing.
Mark Belmega, Director of Social Purpose and Sustainability at Cadent, said: “When we first established the Centres for Warmth programme, we knew there was going to be a need for additional support and we wanted to be there to meet it. “It was an incredibly simple idea – to support more customers by meeting them in their own communities – but the impact was immediately apparent and as long as the need and the funding is there, we will continue to roll the programme out further. “Whilst the programme has proven highly effective, reaching this milestone is bittersweet. Although we are proud to have helped so many customers in our network, we are acutely aware that our Centres for Warmth only exist because people have fallen on tough times. “Whilst the cost of living remains high and this continues to be the case, our Centres for Warmth will endeavour to make a difference to those who need it.”
The Centres for Warmth programme has delivered practical and hands-on support to thousands of low-income households since it was established in 2021 when living costs started to soar. Cadent has invested over £4.3m in the centres, which are located in community buildings across the UK and directly fund financial, benefit and energy experts to help local residents.
Thousands of customers, who have struggled to pay for essentials like food and energy bills, have received help and money management advice totalling over £325 million so far, with the average benefit/saving sitting at roughly £2,500. The announcement comes as insights from Cadent shows almost 7 in 10 (68%) low-income households are more worried about higher living costs than they were last year. As the UK endures another tough winter, Cadent is inviting more community centres in the UK to apply for funding. The money, provided by the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) and allocated to Cadent by Ofgem, is used to help people meet basic and immediate needs, whether it’s food, warmth or shelter. Cadent is also working to address long-term issues impacting communities, including both physical and mental health, employment, money-management and access to safe, adequate housing.
Mark Belmega, Director of Social Purpose and Sustainability at Cadent, said: “When we first established the Centres for Warmth programme, we knew there was going to be a need for additional support and we wanted to be there to meet it. “It was an incredibly simple idea – to support more customers by meeting them in their own communities – but the impact was immediately apparent and as long as the need and the funding is there, we will continue to roll the programme out further. “Whilst the programme has proven highly effective, reaching this milestone is bittersweet. Although we are proud to have helped so many customers in our network, we are acutely aware that our Centres for Warmth only exist because people have fallen on tough times. “Whilst the cost of living remains high and this continues to be the case, our Centres for Warmth will endeavour to make a difference to those who need it.”
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NewsTranscript
00:00 One of the big challenges that we've noted in particular over the last 24 months or so,
00:08 it's been facing people that have never really felt challenged like this before.
00:11 The cost of living crisis continues to push low income households closer to the brink
00:16 with 49% of those earning £29,500 or less, revealing that they do not feel confident
00:23 that they will be able to weather further price hikes.
00:27 In fact, 68% of low income households say they are more worried about higher living
00:31 costs than they were last year.
00:33 In response to the crisis, energy supply company Cadent have set up centres for warmth in underprivileged
00:39 communities across the UK.
00:42 We've now opened 200 of these centres and these centres are positioned in optimal positions
00:49 all over the UK of areas of high deprivation and where there's quite a bit of disadvantaged
00:54 people that live there.
00:56 The centres are free to go to, so local residents can walk into one of these centres and we're
01:01 funding professional dedicated resources who have money management and energy efficiency
01:07 background and what they can do is spend time with individuals from households to understand
01:12 the specific needs that they have, the specific challenges and worries and help them to improve
01:17 the energy efficiency of their home, thereby saving them money on the amount they're spending,
01:21 help them with money matters, also often bringing in additional income through benefits and
01:26 grants they weren't aware that existed, but also help them with things like debt consolidation.
01:31 Their message is simple, don't struggle alone.
01:33 They together with many other organisations such as British Gas are also offering advice
01:39 and support for those struggling with energy bills.
01:42 Citizens Advice can also provide support along with charities such as Shelter, Step Change
01:47 and Turn to Us.
01:49 For those who do take the step to seek help, there is a promising prospect of significant
01:55 improvement in their financial situation.
01:58 The average household who comes for one of these consultations, and it can take some
02:02 time because there's lots of things to do and we directly help with people, typically
02:06 leaves about two and a half thousand pounds better off and that's either money that's
02:10 saved or probably more often it's more money that they're able to bring into their household
02:15 through that advice and support provided by these experts.
02:19 And we've now helped just over 60,000 households, so kind of 60,000 multiplied by two and a
02:24 half thousand, we're into kind of the £150 million rate of money back in people's pockets.
02:31 Cadent is on the verge of inaugurating its 200th support centre.
02:35 The initiative has proven highly effective in assisting individuals grappling with debt.
02:41 Consequently they are now encouraging additional communities to apply for funding.
02:46 We're aiming to get there in the next 12 or 18 months, but there are new centres opening
02:51 up all the time.
02:52 If they have no centre near them but would like to recommend something, please come to
02:56 tell us about that because we're always looking to develop and move and to expand the network
03:01 into the areas that most need it most.
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