In North London, Cadent has 51 Centres for Warmth in the programme, including Bonny Downs Community Association. The programme was launched in 2021 to support low-income households with practical and hands-on advice. Each centre works with Cadent to ensure visitors receive the help they need regarding energy efficiency, including debt and benefits entitlement advice. Investment in the initiative has now reached over £13 million, with centres located in Slough, Southend and Dagenham.
This latest milestone follows new research which highlights the extent of the cost-of-living crisis in the UK. One in four (24%) people living in low-income households feel they are unable to cover their bills, while half (50%) consider themselves to be living in fuel poverty.
One in five (20%) have used a food bank in the past 12 months, with 21 per cent admitting that while they haven’t received any government support in the past, they now feel they need it. What’s more, over two fifths (42%) think it is likely that they’ll need support to pay their bills beyond the existing government support currently available.
The need for the Centre for Warmth programme was further highlighted this winter, when below-average UK temperatures were recorded. In January, temperatures averaged just 3°C for the month – a drop of almost one degree on the UK average. Cadent also saw record numbers of people visiting its centres across the country last winter looking for support.
Stacey Cordery, co-director of Bonny Downs Community Association, said: “Receiving the funding from Cadent to become a Centre for Warmth has allowed us to provide visitors with vital support, including energy and debt advice, as well as benefit entitlement checks. In our centre we cultivate a ‘Community living room’ where our neighbours feel at home and in a safe space to share some of the challenges and worries they face.
"There is always a meal, hot drinks and music. Hundreds of local residents rely on our facilities each week. Through our partnership with Cadent, we have been able to broaden the support we offer and help people navigate the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.”
John Hunter, who due to dyslexia struggles to understand ever increasing digital systems , is one of the many local residents to have received support from Bonny Downs.
John said: “Before I visited Bonny Downs, I was struggling to keep on top of my bills. I was unemployed, had no electric and my Universal Credit had stopped. However, the team at Bonny Downs helped me reinstate my Universal Credit. They have also helped me understand what benefits I am entitled to and understand what I need to when I receive messages that need actioning.
"I’ve also been provided heated blankets and electric top ups, helping me keep warm when I get home. I’m also being supported with a job search club. It really has been such a fantastic support for me and I give back by volunteering weekly with them”
As well as being a warm space for those living in vulnerable situations, the centres play a key role in helping those feeling lonely and isolated, offering a safe space to meet others in the community. Cadent runs the Centre for Warmth programme through Ofgem’s Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA), with investment in the programme surpassing £13m.
Since its inception, over 700,000 people have visited a Centre for Warmth, while over 136,000 people have been offered energy efficiency advice. Cadent has also distributed over 38,000 carbon monoxide alarms for free across the centres, while 16,500 people have signed up to the Priority Services Register.
Phil Burrows, Head of Customer Vulnerability & Social Purpose at Cadent, said: “Today’s milestone announcement marks a poignant day of reflection for Cadent. We are, of course, incredibly proud of the Centre for Warmth programme and all it has achieved. It has helped us reach those most vulnerable in the communities in which we serve, providing much-needed help to hundreds of thousands of people.
“However, the programme’s growth should serve as a reminder of how many people are struggling to live independently and safely in their own homes. Throughout the cost-of-living crisis, we have been committed to helping our customers living in the most vulnerable situations and will continue supporting such fantastic causes with our funding from Ofgem.”
To find out more about the Centre for Warmth programme, please visit: www.cadentgas,com/cfw.