National Energy Action announced on 20 October 2026 that its Warm Homes, Healthy Futures programme has reached 50,000 fuel poor households across England, Scotland and Wales1. The charity said fuel poverty fell by 29.3% among the households it supported, with what it described as major drops in energy rationing1.
The reported outcomes cover the 50,000 households supported. Just over a quarter (27.9%) no longer avoided cooking hot food, and just under 30% no longer cut back on the amount of hot water they used1. Over a quarter of advice clients (28.5%) said their physical health improved, with 24.5% attributing that change directly to the support they received1. In total, the programme helped secure over £11 million in financial gains for clients1.
| Measure | Reported result |
|---|---|
| Households supported | 50,000 |
| Fall in fuel poverty among those supported | 29.3% |
| No longer avoided cooking hot food | 27.9% |
| No longer cut back on hot water | Just under 30% |
| Advice clients reporting better physical health | 28.5% (24.5% attributed it to the support) |
| Financial gains secured for clients | Over £11 million |
| Social value per £1 invested (to end of March 2026) | £16.55 |
The programme is funded by the four Gas Distribution Networks through the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance, and operates in each network's region: Cadent (London, North West, West Midlands, East of England and East Midlands), Northern Gas Networks (North East, northern Cumbria and Yorkshire), SGN (Scotland and Southern England) and Wales & West Utilities (Wales and the South West)1. Contracted delivery partners and health and social care professionals refer people to energy advisers, who help with income maximisation, essential gas appliance servicing, energy crisis support such as vouchers, and energy and carbon monoxide advice1.
"The programme has seen fuel poverty fall by 29.3% for those supported, with major drops in energy rationing."
As of the end of March 2026, National Energy Action's Social Return on Investment model indicated the programme had unlocked £16.55 in total social value per £1 invested1. The charity notes that its figure and the networks' own SROI figures vary: the networks use Ofgem's GDN Rulebook criteria for consistent assessment across gas networks, while the charity's bespoke tool includes wider wellbeing benefits evidenced by beneficiaries1.
Why it matters for households
The programme is a referral route rather than a grant scheme in its own right: help arrives through a health or social care professional who refers a household to an energy adviser1. For a home, the reported effects are on income, appliance safety and crisis support rather than on the fabric of the building. The charity's figures describe fewer households rationing hot food and hot water, and more saying their health improved1. How fuel poverty is defined and measured differs across the UK, which affects how such results compare with national statistics; our guide to fuel poverty in UK households sets out the measures. Households in England, Scotland and Wales have separate grant and advice landscapes, covered in our guides to home energy grants and schemes, help for low-income households in England, Nest and the Warm Homes Programme in Wales and Home Energy Scotland.
What happens next
Delivery initially ran from September 2024 to March 2026, and the programme has been funded for a further two years, from April 2026 to March 20281. National Energy Action has published an impact report for the programme1. No further targets beyond the 50,000 milestone have been reported.