Grants are available for grassroots organisations that serve economically disadvantaged areas and target historically under-represented and marginalised groups in the Midlands, Southwest England and South Wales working to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy affordability in their communities.
Objectives of Fund
This round is for community organisations in National Grid’s distribution area, across the Midlands, Southwest England and South Wales, with projects that create lasting benefits and help people save money on their energy bills over the long term and support one or more of the following themes:
- Distributing warm packs or energy efficiency measures for households, such as warm blankets, radiator keys, insulated curtains and draught excluders
- Visiting isolated households to help residents make their homes warmer and more energy efficient
- Running a warm space in a community building
- Improving the energy efficiency of a community building used as a warm space
- Providing advice on tariff switching, energy saving, Winter Fuel Payments and other fuel poverty support.
Applications which achieve a long-term impact by helping people save money on their household energy bills on an ongoing, sustainable basis are especially encouraged. Applications from projects which will deliver long-term benefits will be particularly welcome.
A total of £500,000 is available in this round.
There are two funding levels:
- Grants of up to £5,000 for registered charities or non-profit companies limited by guarantee.
- Grants of up to £2,000 for constituted charitable organisations that do not have a charity number.
Projects should start from the week of 16 November 2026 onwards and be completed, with all funding spent, by 31 March 2027.
Who Can Apply
The following types of organisations may apply:
- Registered charities.
- Non-profit companies limited by guarantee.
- Constituted charitable organisations with no charity number.
Organisations must be based and projects must be delivered in the National Grid’s electricity distribution area in one of the following regions:
- East Midlands.
- West Midlands.
- South West England.
- South Wales.
Applicants can confirm they are eligible by using the National Grid postcode checker
There is no limit to the annual income an organisation must have to be eligible to receive funding.
The list of exclusions is in the guidance notes on the local giving website.
Eligible Expenditure
The funding will support project costs (not core costs). Groups looking solely for funding for core costs are not eligible.
The funding can be used for a number of things, including but are not limited to:
- Projects running outreach sessions for local community members living in fuel poverty, signposting to and providing application advice for fuel payment financial support services.
- Projects running drop-in advice sessions to help community members get detailed information about their current tariff, alternative options, and support materials to help them switch over.
- Projects to improve energy efficiency or make essential repairs needed to open a community warm hub this winter or keep an active one running.
- Home visits to isolated or otherwise vulnerable people to help them install measures to reduce their energy bills.
- Distribution of ‘Warm Packs’ or heat loss reduction items such as heavy curtains, hot water cylinder jackets and radiator reflector panels.
- Training for staff or volunteers to recognise signs of fuel poverty among their clients and address the root causes, preferably via completion of courses/qualifications such as City and Guild Level 3 in Energy Awareness.
- Projects helping individuals or community warm spaces access information and support installing low carbon technologies to reduce their energy bills (solar panels, heat pumps, etc).
Projects should start from the week of 16 November 2026 onwards and be completed, with all funding spent, by 31 March 2027.
How To Apply
Applications are accepted from 22 September 2026 to 16 October 2026 (17:00) with notification of decisions by mid-November and funds distributed to successful applicants before December 2026.
The guidance notes and online application form are available on the Localgiving website.