British Gas has pledged £40 million to the British Gas Energy Trust, committing £8 million a year over the next five years, the Trust announced on 5 May 20261. The Trust, which is solely funded by British Gas, said the funding will support thousands of households struggling with rising energy costs and wider cost-of-living pressures, and will enable it to expand and strengthen its frontline support1.
The Trust provides energy and debt relief grants, emergency fuel vouchers, and support for essential household items such as white goods, alongside targeted outreach programmes in communities across England, Scotland and Wales1. As part of the investment it will overhaul its flagship Supporting Communities At Risk Programme (SCARP), reshaping it to deliver more targeted, long-term support1. It also plans longer-term funding for charities and community organisations, moving towards three-year partnerships from April 2027, which it says is designed to give frontline services greater financial certainty1.
Tracey Talbot, the Trust's interim chief executive, said:
"This £40 million commitment comes at a critical time for many households who are still struggling to keep up with energy costs."
Gary Booker, Managing Director at British Gas, said tackling energy debt and fuel poverty remains a major priority for the company1.
A separate British Gas announcement on 26 May 2026 states that the £40 million forms part of British Gas's contribution to the Warm Homes Discount scheme for industry initiatives, which it describes as including debt support, energy efficiency advice, and funding for fuel poverty programmes2. The Trust's own announcement does not describe the money in those terms, and does not state that it forms part of a Warm Homes Discount obligation1. The Trust describes itself as an independent charity funded solely by British Gas1.
The same announcement says British Gas is expanding its Warm and Working scheme, which provides free home upgrades, boiler servicing and energy efficiency improvements to vulnerable households, with engineers visiting 1,000 homes over the coming months, including eligible households who are not British Gas customers2. It also sets out a new Fix & Fall tariff fixing prices for two years, with rates lowered by up to £50 on the average dual fuel bill if the Ofgem price cap falls on 1 July 20272.
Why it matters for households
The Trust is one of the routes by which households in energy debt can access crisis funds and hardship grants, and the five-year commitment gives it a stated funding horizon rather than a year-by-year one1. For a household carrying arrears, the practical relevance is the type of support listed: debt relief grants, emergency fuel vouchers and help with essential items such as white goods1. The move to three-year partnerships from April 2027 concerns funding for charities and community organisations rather than payments to households, and the Trust says it will spend the next year assessing where need is greatest1. No cash amounts for individual grants, eligibility thresholds or application dates are given in either announcement1. The Trust's grants are administered independently of British Gas tariffs and service, and the Trust states it is solely funded by the company1.
What happens next
The Trust will work with partners over the next year to assess where need is greatest and how services can be delivered more effectively1. It plans to move to three-year partnerships with charities and community organisations from April 20271. British Gas engineers are due to visit 1,000 homes over the next few months under the Warm and Working scheme2. Under Fix & Fall, rates would be lowered by up to £50 on the average dual fuel bill if the Ofgem price cap falls on 1 July 20272.
Sources2 cited
- British Gas Commits £40m to Support UK Households in Financial Hardship, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk
- British Gas launches new 'Fix & Fall' tariff, centrica.com