A new initiative between Community Energy Pathways (CEP) and SGN has been launched this week that will help people most at risk from fuel poverty to save money and cut carbon emissions.
The partnership is designed to provide a range of support throughout the SGN region in southern England. The project will ensure that any vulnerable customer can receive the advice they need to stay warm and well, with online and in-person events at community venues taking place to provide emergency fuel vouchers and winter warm packs. The initiative was launched at Ashford Community Cinema in Kent on 12th June 2025, where CEP and SGN gave free energy saving advice.
The events are open to anyone that may be experiencing fuel poverty, but the project team are particularly interested in people that are the hardest to reach, including members of the Gypsy, Roma & Traveller community and young adults leaving local authority care throughout the south east.
CEP will also be delivering a series of online training webinars for young adults leaving the care system. These individuals are particularly vulnerable to problem energy debt and the impacts of fuel poverty. CEP’s training program will ensure that care leavers are empowered with the knowledge and skills to understand and handle their energy use once they are living independently.
With the cost-of-living crisis hitting people hard across the country, fuel poverty is an issue that too many people are facing. Government stats say that 11% of households in England are experiencing fuel poverty. This term officially means that they need to spend a high proportion of their income on heating and hot water, and that these households may have to make the hard decision between ‘heating or eating’. Both CEP and SGN want to help change this.
Janet Duggan, Community Partnership Manager at SGN, said:
“We’re committed to keeping our communities safe and warm and by working in a joined-up way with Community Energy Pathways, we’re able to tap into their community expertise to reach those who are really struggling with fuel poverty and provide much needed energy advice. Through building strong connections we can help vulnerable households get much needed help.”
CEP is a consultancy and mentoring organisation which helps to establish, support, and develop grassroots community energy organisations. Over the last year they have supported 20 community groups to set up and run energy advice projects which have reached over 15,000 individuals with vital energy advice. Their new partnership with SGN represents an opportunity to reach thousands of the most vulnerable people in society with this support.