A life-changing partnership between Age UK, Age Cymru, Age Scotland and Britain’s gas network companies is being extended to help more older people.
The £1.7m partnership builds on the success of a previous nationwide initiative and has been co-designed by the organisations using insight and learning gathered from older people and frontline advisers. Its aim is to provide meaningful, practical and trusted support to older people across England, Scotland and Wales.
Led by SGN and funded by the organisation as well as Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and Wales & West Utilities, the programme extends their existing partnerships for a further two years and will run until March 2028 to help even more older people stay safe, warm and independent at home.
Almost 118,000 older households across Britain have already received personalised energy support thanks to the partnership. Thousands more benefitted from online information, benefits checks and practical guidance to help them manage energy costs and stay safe at home.
The programme has also strengthened the skills and expertise of advice teams across the Age UK, Age Cymru and Age Scotland networks. The partnership has enabled the charities to support thousands of vulnerable households through immediate practical assistance, including providing heat packs, longer-term energy advice, safety information and support to manage energy bills.
The enhanced knowledge developed through the programme continues to help advisers identify vulnerable customers and connect them with available support.
In one case, a 90-year-old man living alone had received a free carbon monoxide alarm through an Age Scotland partnership programme. When the alarm began flashing and beeping, he was unsure what the warning meant or what he should do.
While speaking with the man, an adviser recognised he was struggling to understand the vital safety advice and may not have been able to take the necessary action independently.
Concerned for his safety, the adviser contacted SGN directly, and an engineer was at the man’s home within an hour. While the carbon monoxide detector itself was found to be faulty, the engineer also discovered a gas leak in the property, allowing the issue to be identified and resolved before it could cause serious harm.
Pippa Lock, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy at Age UK, said: “Older people are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of fuel poverty, often spending more time at home and needing to use more energy to maintain their health and wellbeing. Through the renewed partnership, they will be able to access specialist support designed around their specific needs.”
Through the next phase of the partnership, older people will continue to receive support with energy-related concerns and be connected to specialist services where needed by the national Age UK, Age Scotland and Age Cymru advice lines. It will also provide trusted, accessible information tailored specifically for older people, alongside a learning-led and nation-responsive approach that reflects local needs and challenges.
Margaret Hamilton, Community Partnership Manager at SGN, said: “The Gas Distribution Networks and Age UK, Age Cymru and Age Scotland charities are extending our commitment to working together to ensure older people can access trusted advice, practical support and potentially life-saving interventions, helping them live safely, confidently and independently in their own homes for longer.”
