The Renewal Programme spotlight - Keeping Newham safe and warm

Newham has one of the highest rates of fuel poverty in England, with nearly a fifth of households affected in 2020. 

At the start of the year, the Cadent Foundation awarded a £237,811 grant to the The Renewal Programme and Groundwork to launch the Stay Warm in Newham project, aimed at supporting local residents who are struggling with the impacts of fuel poverty.

The collaborative, multi-agency approach acts as a one-stop shop, delivering a range of services including, providing energy advice and measures, energy related hardship grants and access to warm bank sessions. Community outreach partners and 15 energy champions have been recruited and trained to help amplify customer support by providing advice on energy usage and behaviours and helping customers get access to further support available to help keep warm in their homes.

From the success of the project, both charities have since received further funding from Newham Local Authority for a complementary project which is helping to reach even more people across the borough

Julia Dwyer, Director of the Cadent Foundation, commented:

“We are delighted to work with the Renewal Programme and Groundwork on the Stay Warm in Newham project. With rising energy costs and vulnerable households being forced to make difficult decisions every day, the practical help and advice this project offers is making a real difference."

Take 5 with Stay Warm in Newham

1.What is Stay Warm in Newham's current key priority?

To reach out to the most vulnerable communities in Newham affected by the cost-of-living crisis and ensure that they are aware of what help is available. It is particularly important for us to ensure that there are no barriers for residents to access our services, such as language and social isolation, which our project seeks to tackle.

2.Currently, what are the main reason for customers seeking out your services?

At the Renewal Programme we provide a variety of services for the community, such as bi-weekly food bank sessions, free ESOL and IT classes, youth programmes, and the Refugee and Migrant Project. Through these services, we attract people in Newham in need of various forms and degrees of support. However, the most pressing concern we see from our service users is the current cost-of-living crisis.

3.How has funding from the Cadent Foundation impacted your work?

The Stay Warm in Newham project has been a great success, and we are seeing a minimum of 60 residents from neighbouring communities attend the sessions. The bi-weekly warm bank sessions we run have become a safe space for residents to relax and enjoy some company; significantly reducing social isolation for elderly residents.

Our Energy Champions who have been trained by Groundwork have provided energy-saving advice to 126 residents to date, preparing them for the upcoming winter months when energy bills are expected to be significantly higher. Referrals are also made for residents to Groundwork’s Green Doctors for in-depth advice and signposting to other services regarding fuel costs and debt.

In November we ran the first of our Energy Saving Cooking Classes, which so far have been running at full capacity. Attendees of the classes are taught how to cook using energy efficient appliances, such as air fryers, slow cookers, and other energy saving cooking tips. We also encourage residents to practice sustainability at the Renewal Programme and have used items from our food bank such as plant-based food to reduce waste and carbon emission.

4.What needs to change so everyone can afford the essentials, such as fuel?

We advise families struggling to reach out to their local community centres for support and guidance. Projects like Stay Warm in Newham exist to ensure that the most vulnerable, hard-to-reach communities struggling with fuel poverty are aware of the support available.

5.What would you like to see implemented to help reduce fuel poverty?

We would like to ensure that all residents struggling with fuel poverty can access one-to-one support regardless of eligibility, ensuring they have a support plan tailored to their households needs.

For more information about the Stay Warm in Newham project and to learn more about the other charities we partner with, visit the Cadent Foundation website.