CSE worked with SGN to help create a network of community organisations to provide much-needed support for people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The scheme was called Safe and Warm and ran from December 2022 to July 2026. It was funded through The Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Allowance.

The Safe and Warm Communities scheme provided funding and support for local initiatives helping customers with carbon monoxide safety and alleviating fuel poverty.

The scheme funded over £2.5m to 67 grassroot groups who have supported over 40,000 households with energy safeguarding, winter resilience and carbon monoxide awareness. Read our latest impact report for 2025-2026.

Expanding support for people in fuel poverty

With the funding and support from CSE, organisations supported households in vulnerable circumstances to:

• Be better protected from rising energy bills, lack of funding and joined-up services.
• Have better awareness of their rights and options in a complex energy system.
• Have better knowledge and access to support available to them (e.g. the Priority Services Register).
• Have an increased awareness of carbon monoxide safety.
• Access energy advice in other languages ensuring they can access information they wouldn’t otherwise.
• Get support with debt alleviation and prevention through accessing crisis support (e.g. fuel vouchers) and referrals to debt and income maximisation support.

The scheme enabled funded organisations to:

• Provide tailored advice suitable for their community’s needs.
• Increase knowledge of other services that staff and volunteers did not previously know existed and could now signpost to, freeing up time for other support.
• Recruit more staff and volunteers, adding organisational capacity.
• Develop and test creative and innovative events and activities and build collaborative partnerships to reach new individuals.
• Build experience and credibility, sometimes leading to securing further funding.

Who did the scheme fund?

The organisations that the Safe & Warm Communities scheme funded were from areas where SGN operates the gas network. This includes all of Scotland, and all of the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent. It also includes parts of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey and South London.

The focus was on small grassroots organisations who:

• Had experience in working with underserved and seldom-heard groups.
• Were embedded in their local area and able to connect with individuals who may not otherwise have been able to access support.
• Were keen to join a network of similar organisations to share learning and best practice.
• Were legally incorporated or were being supported by a legally incorporated partner organisation.
• Had robust administrative and management systems.