Cadent awards £25m in grants in five years

The Cadent Foundation has revealed that in the five years since its launch it has awarded more than £25 million in charitable grants.

In its latest annual impact report, the foundation reveals that in 2023 alone it drove initiatives with partners such as Citizens Advice that have supported more than 35,000 of the most vulnerable consumers.

Last year the Cadent Foundation’s projects helped to either manage or write off debt worth almost £4.5 million, install 33,799 energy efficiency measures and also help consumers save £1.1 million through energy efficiency measures or advice.

Furthermore they helped make more than 5,800 homes more energy efficient and helped give over 4,200 people income maximisation and debt advice.

Cadent Foundation’s achievements over the past year include:

• A 12-month pilot with Citizens Advice, funding specialist caseworkers to provide energy efficiency advice and support for residents with multiple, complex issues;
• A new partnership with the Renewal Programme in Newham, which has the highest rate of fuel poverty in London, saw the launch of the ‘Stay Warm’ initiative, bringing together community partners to deliver a ‘one stop’ energy advice and support service aimed at tackling the rising levels of poverty amongst residents, and;
• The launch of a two-year partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to help provide energy efficiency and money management advice via the charity’s Sight Loss Advice Service

Meanwhile, at the beginning of this year, the foundation confirmed a new, three-year agreement for its Green Doctors Programme, with an additional £6 million grant to extend the programme and plans to create a new Green Doctors Academy.

Ranjit Blythe, managing director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “The impact we have been able to drive over the past five years has far exceeded the expectations we initially set ourselves. But, while we are all incredibly proud of the work we’ve done with our charity partners to support people living in the most vulnerable situations across the UK, we know there is still so much more to do, with over six million people still living in fuel poverty.

“We have learned a lot in terms of how to drive and deliver the most success from targeted projects and the next phase in our journey will see us doubling down on our efforts to reach as many people as possible, with both practical and financial support.”

Going forward, Cadent Foundation is aiming to double the number of people it supports.

“A key part of our evolution will see us, for the first time, becoming a charitable partner in our own right – facilitating Cadent’s 6,000 colleagues to directly fundraise and support hyper-local charities that align with the organisation’s Force for Good agenda. This new initiative supports our goal of reaching more people, while continuing to fund and deliver major nationwide fuel poverty projects,” Blythe added.