Blackpool to benefit from £340k initiative to support people in fuel poverty

The Stay Warm in Blackpool programme will see Green Doctors – Groundwork’s trained energy advisers – embedded into the local community. In Blackpool South, 22 per cent of households live in fuel poverty, almost double the national average (13%).

Support for residents from the new project will be available at three locations: N-Vision, Grange Community Centre and Blackpool Eco Hub at Palatine Library. Operating from each community centres, the project will help increase access to individualised support, including energy advice, energy saving measures for the home and personal warmth items.

Crucially, Stay Warm in Blackpool will build the skills and capacity of local residents, empowering them to identify and support people suffering from fuel poverty after the project’s completion. This will be achieved through an Energy Champion initiative, where volunteers are recruited and trained to support with project delivery, helping to improve the reach of the project among underrepresented groups. Training will include identifying fuel poverty and basic behaviour change advice to reduce energy consumption.

Newham in London has already benefited from the Stay Warm in… project, following a two-year pilot. Here, 385 locals received in-depth advice, while bill savings achieved through small measures and behaviour changes reached over £20,000. In addition, 20 energy champion volunteers were trained to enable the project’s continuation.

The project forms part of a £340,000 fund from Cadent Foundation, as part of the Stay Warm, Stay Well programme with Groundwork, and is expected to reach 9,400 people living in vulnerable situations, with funding distributed to projects across England. The other locations set to benefit from the fund are Leigh, Wellingborough and Willenhall (Coventry).

Ranjit Blythe, Managing Director of Cadent Foundation, said: “The ongoing challenges associated with the cost of living means that this winter is going to be difficult for millions of households across the UK. This is why we develop programmes that provide year-round support to fuel poverty with our trusted charity partners.

“We are proud to partner with Groundwork to ensure local communities not only get the help they need now but are equipped with the tools to make behavioural changes that will have a long-term impact on their energy consumption. We have already seen the huge impact it had on Newham, so extending this to four more locations across the UK will see us continue our efforts to provide long-term solutions to fuel poverty.”

According to National Energy Action, the number of households who are required to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on domestic energy, after housing costs, reached 8.99 million in 2024.

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said: “Our Green Doctors see the devastating impact that fuel poverty has on households every day as families continue to struggle to keep their homes warm. They also see the relief when people are given the right support, based on the needs of their home and circumstances.

“The Stay Warm in project allows this intervention to go one step further – creating a safe space for people to get support while empowering local people to help their friends, relatives and neighbours.

“Thank you to the Cadent Foundation for your continued partnership working and support to ensure we can reach as many people in need this winter and beyond.”