What are ‘Centres for Warmth’?
We work with existing, trusted local charities in areas where high levels of deprivation or fuel poverty have been identified, or where there is an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Our Centres for Warmth support people in vulnerable situations by helping them stay warm, safe, and connected to their community. There are currently over 250 Centres for Warmth, and this number will rise to 330 during the next two years.
We work with existing, trusted local charities in areas where high levels of deprivation or fuel poverty have been identified, or where there is an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Many Centres already offer vital services e.g. food pantries and job clubs but haven’t been able to provide advice on energy efficiency, carbon monoxide safety, or the Priority Services Register. The Centres for Warmth project provides the training and resources needed to offer this extra support.
Cadent uses the Ofgem awarded Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Initiative (VCMI) to fund the Centres for Warmth partnerships and provide them with resources and specialist training. This often enables charities and groups to expand the help they can offer to vulnerable households, provide trusted guidance, and, for many people, act as a vital lifeline.
Our charity partners are based in community centres that sit at the heart of local neighbourhoods – they are already known and respected. These centres bring people together, reduce isolation, and provide a welcoming place for support and advice. All in all, they are a positive ‘force for good’ in their community.
Over the last few years Cadent’s Centres for Warmth programme has grown, and we have developed ways of enhancing the support and help we can provide through these initiatives
The extensive network of Centres for Warmth is incredibly successful; however, it does not cover all areas and relies on people in communities knowing about them and visiting the centres.
The Mobile Advice Centre (MAC) was created to allow Cadent to provide services like that of a Centre for Warmth but delivered into the heart of the most deprived communities. It also offers access and support into more rural communities.
The MAC provides a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for people to visit and access information to support them during challenging financial times.
Since the first MAC took to the road in August 2024 Cadent has added a further 4 MAC vehicles to the fleet to help and support customers.
In response to new research data, Cadent launched a new programme to provide urgent support to households grappling with fuel poverty and issues of damp and mould.
Warm Wash Centres offer washing, drying and warm facilities in 10 of the UK’s most deprived areas, beginning in Liverpool, Birmingham, Leicester and London. These centres – set up within existing Centres for Warmth - will not only provide immediate relief for families struggling in damp housing conditions but will also serve as hubs for energy efficiency and gas safety advice, empowering families to take proactive steps to combat fuel poverty.
Launched in partnership with Cadent in July 2024, Inspiring Fitness in the Community is a transformative initiative dedicated to improving health and wellbeing in communities that are most in need.
Based in over 40 Cadent Centres for Warmth across five Regions, we deliver free exercise and wellbeing classes tailored to diverse groups of all ages and abilities.
By addressing barriers like cost, accessibility, inclusivity and cultural sensitivity, Inspiring Fitness in the Community empowers individuals through movement, conversation and connection.
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