As temperatures soar to a record-breaking start to May, residents living in vulnerable situations in Harrow can seek respite in one of thirteen community hubs to benefit from a new £370,000 project between Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, and Harrow Giving.
Designed to help the most vulnerable people in the community stay comfortable and safe in their homes throughout the year, the project is part of Cadent’s successful Centre for Warmth programme, where trained advisors and volunteers support the local community to save money on their heating and stay safe from the hazard of carbon monoxide (CO). Each centre funded through the programme can also sign people up to the Priority Services Register (PSR) - a free service offered by energy and water companies to provide extra support and advice to customers with specific needs.
Since the partnership was first announced in October, 2,242 people have benefited from income and benefits advice, resulting in Harrow residents accesing over £44,000 in income due to them. Additionally, almost 600 CO alarms have already been distributed, while almost 300 residents have signed up to the PSR.
The 13 community hubs that have benefited from the funding are:
- Harrow Association of Somali Voluntary Organisations (HASVO)
- African Cultural Association Community Hub
- Mind in Harrow
- Oshwal Association of the UK (OAUK)
- MAA Kruper Foundation
- Blossom Education
- Watford FC’s Community Sport and Education Trust (Cedars Youth & Community Centre)
- My Yard (Grange Farm Community Centre)
- EACH Counselling & Support
- RCTT
- Vedicca London
- Harrow Association of Disabled People
- Hotspot Community CIC
Each Centre for Warmth will continue to run ongoing community events and activities for locals until March 2026, providing continuity of support, building trust and forging supportive relationships within each centre. Rachel Wright at Harrow Giving, said: “These centres are a real lifeline for many of the most vulnerable, isolated residents. Working alongside Cadent has meant reaching more people, with information and support that could be life saving.”
Phil Burrows, Head of Customer Vulnerability and Social Purpose at Cadent, said: “Our Centres for Warmth are designed to support people living in vulnerable situations keep warm, safe and connected. It is important that we work with partners who truly know the local area, so that they can identify the needs of the community and tailor the support to suit. I’ve seen the work of Harrow Giving first hand, and it is fantastic – yet unsurprising – to see the positive impact the funding has already had on the local community.”
The partnership is funded through Ofgem’s Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA). Cadent has over 300 Centres for Warmth across its network, making it one of its biggest VCMA projects.
To find out more about the Harrow Giving hubs, please visit www.harrowgiving.org.uk/hubs, where you can search by date or location to see what is on offer.
To find out more about the Centres for Warmth, visit: cadentgas.com/social-responsibility/centres-for-warmth.