The British Gas Energy Trust has announced the impact of its White Goods Scheme, which it says has supported an estimated 19,435 people across England, Wales and Scotland since launching in 20231. The initiative began as a pilot in England and Wales in December 2023 before expanding nationally, and extended into Scotland in 2025 through additional funding from British Gas1.
The scheme is funded through more than £2.4 million of investment from British Gas and addresses access to essential household appliances such as washing machines, fridge freezers and cookers1. It is delivered through a network of 48 trusted organisations, including charities, community groups and advice agencies, which identify households in need and facilitate access to appliances1.
Over the course of the programme the Trust reports the scheme has distributed1:
| Appliance | Number distributed |
|---|---|
| Washing machines | 2,069 |
| Fridge freezers | 1,727 |
| Electric cookers | 1,351 |
| Under-counter fridges | 194 |
| Under-counter freezers | 176 |
| Tumble dryers for households with additional laundering needs | 147 |
Tracey Talbot, Interim CEO of the British Gas Energy Trust, said:
"Access to things like cookers, fridges or washing machines should never be a barrier to living safely and with dignity. Yet for thousands of people experiencing financial hardship, replacing a broken appliance is simply out of reach."
The Trust states that the scheme has helped thousands of households maintain safe, stable and healthy homes by providing practical support that improves quality of life and reduces financial pressure1. The announcement carries a note that the post has not been updated in a while and that some details may no longer be accurate1.
Why it matters for households
A working cooker, fridge or washing machine is not usually treated as an energy efficiency measure, but it shapes how a home uses energy and what a household spends. A broken fridge freezer or an appliance that has to be replaced outright is a capital cost that sits alongside the running costs that home energy grants in England and home energy grants in Wales are designed to address. The White Goods Scheme is separate from the insulation and heating schemes covered in the grants and schemes hub, including ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme, which fund fabric and heating improvements rather than appliances.
For a household, the practical effect described by the Trust is that an appliance is supplied rather than purchased, removing one upfront cost at a point of financial hardship1. The scheme operates through local partner organisations rather than a national application route, so access depends on a household being identified by one of the 48 delivery partners1. The Trust has not reported how eligibility is assessed, how households apply directly, or whether the scheme is open to new applicants beyond the period covered by the report1.
What happens next
The Trust has published a report covering 2023 to 20261. No closing date, future funding round or expansion beyond the current nations has been reported1.
Sources1 cited
- British Gas Energy Trust White Goods Scheme Supports 19,000+ People Across Britain, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk