Stay Warm Stay Well

Groundwork and the Cadent Foundation’s Stay Warm Stay Well partnership is transforming how fuel poverty is tackled in England. Since 2020, the partnership has grown into one of the country’s largest community-based fuel poverty programmes, combining Cadent Foundation’s long-term investment with Groundwork’s trusted local delivery to provide practical, in-home support for vulnerable households.

At the heart of the programme is the Green Doctor model, through which trained advisors help people reduce energy costs, improve home conditions and access wider support. This personalised approach has proved highly effective, with home visits uncovering issues such as damp, mould, faulty appliances and financial hardship that might otherwise remain hidden.

The partnership has continually adapted to emerging needs, developing targeted responses around damp and mould, retrofit support, language accessibility and workforce development.

Between 1 June 2025 and 31 May 2026, the partnership has supported more than 4,800 households across 140+ local authority areas, installed over 16,000 energy saving measures, distributed over 5,000 warm packs and generated annual household savings of more than £630,000.

Alongside immediate crisis support, the partnership is building long-term capacity through the Green Doctor Academy, which recruits and trains people from underrepresented backgrounds into green careers. By combining practical help, prevention and systems change, Stay Warm Stay Well is improving lives, strengthening communities and shaping a more effective national response to fuel poverty.