The Safe and Warm Grassroots Communities scheme is part of the wider Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) funding programme. We’re partnering with three Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) to deliver this scheme: SGN, Northern Gas Networks (NGN), and Wales and West Utilities (WWU).

Community organisations play a crucial role in identifying and supporting people who are vulnerable and most at risk of fuel poverty within their communities. Their close and trusted relationships within neighbourhoods can reach people who are less engaged with national campaigns or unaware of formal support routes.

We’re working with locally rooted organisations within the SGN, NGN and WWU network areas, to provide much needed energy safeguarding and wellbeing support.

UK households continue to face high energy costs and many also face the challenge of hard to heat housing. Since 2021, energy prices have almost doubled, and as of early 2026, it’s estimated that around 6.7 million households across the UK are living in fuel poverty. Nearly half of low-income households remain in homes that are hard to heat, leaving millions exposed to cold, damp conditions that harm their physical and mental health.

The Safe and Warm Grassroots Communities scheme is creating a network of organisations providing crucial support to people with energy-related needs and other crisis interventions. Many organisations will reach people who otherwise wouldn’t access energy advice and support, for example because of being in an underserved geographic area or demographic community.

It’s particularly focused on helping people who will struggle to stay safe and warm over the cold winter period. But we know that it’s not just the winter months that are tough, and advice and support is needed through the year.

Aims of the scheme

The fund aims to build the capacity of grassroots organisations to support their community with:

• Current information on help and support available to maintain a safe and warm home.
• Critical primary needs around energy and income maximisation.
• Joining the Priority Services Register where eligible. This is a simple sign up which offers extra security and support in the event of an unplanned power outage).
• Awareness of the risk of Carbon Monoxide and how to mitigate it.
• Reducing stress and improving health and wellbeing as a result of being helped at a time of unprecedented need.
• Support to access emergency funding, crisis support and energy funding schemes.

This scheme is currently closed to applications. The next funding round will be opening in spring 2027.

Get in touch with us at safeandwarmcommunities@cse.org.uk.