A new phase of Energy Systems Catapult's Warm Home Prescription has been launched in partnership with SGN and the Fuel Bank Foundation, running from December 2024 to March 20261. Eligible households in Scotland and southern England will receive tailored energy credits of up to £245 per household to help cover winter heating costs1.
The energy credits are paid for by the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) fund1. The scheme builds on earlier Warm Home Prescription trials that Energy Systems Catapult says have already improved the lives of over 1,000 households, with reported reductions in primary health care use and improvements in physical and mental health1. The Catapult states that cold homes cost the NHS around £1.4 billion each year, and that over 36% of households spend more than 10% of their income on energy1.
Outreach includes referrals from the NHS and from community support organisations1. Energy advisors from SCARF, SELCE and other regional energy expert organisations will carry out phone assessments and, where necessary, in-home visits1. Households will also receive guidance on energy-efficient solutions and smart meter installations, alongside referrals for benefits checks, debt management and local community schemes, plus free carbon monoxide monitors and safety advice1.
"This project is about saving lives. Every day, vulnerable people face the real threat of cold-related illness and death. By extending the Warm Home Prescription, we can offer immediate energy credits, expert advice, and comprehensive support to ensure that families stay warm and safe."
The Warm Home Prescription service was invented by Energy Systems Catapult and has been trialled across England and Scotland since 2022, helping people who struggle to afford energy and have severe health conditions made worse by the cold2. An earlier pilot in Gloucestershire covered 28 homes in 2021/22, and a larger trial in 2022/23 supported 823 vulnerable and low-income individuals in Aberdeen, Middlesbrough, Gloucestershire and London2. In summer 2023, 92 residents in Aberdeen and Teesside who had previously received bill credit instead received home energy improvements2.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Energy credit per household | Up to £2451 |
| Scheme period | December 2024 to March 20261 |
| Households helped by earlier trials | Over 1,0001 |
| Recipients reporting positive physical health impact (2022/23 trial) | 79%2 |
| Recipients heating home at least 2 degrees warmer (2022/23 trial) | 51%2 |
Why it matters for households
The scheme targets homes where cold and health are directly linked, rather than offering a general discount. For a household in Scotland or southern England that qualifies, the credit is applied to the energy account so heating can start immediately, with advice attached rather than left to the household to arrange1. The Catapult's own trial data suggests the practical effect is warmer homes: in the 2022/23 trial, more than four out of five recipients heated their homes to warmer temperatures than in previous years, and 51% heated them at least 2 degrees warmer2. Of a sample of 68 people who received home energy improvements, just over half achieved temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius for most of the time, while temperatures above 16 degrees Celsius were achieved almost all the time2. The scheme sits alongside the wider landscape of home energy grants and crisis and hardship funds, but it is referral-based rather than open to application, which shapes who can reach it.
What happens next
The scheme runs to March 20261. Referrals come through the NHS and community support organisations, with assessments by regional energy advisors1. Energy Systems Catapult has not reported a public application route for households.
Sources2 cited
- Partnership aims to save lives with energy support for vulnerable households, es.catapult.org.uk
- Warm Home Prescription® | Energy Systems Catapult, es.catapult.org.uk