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This winter Wales & West Utilities has joined all other UK gas distribution networks (GDNs) to announce a partnership with housing and homelessness charities, Shelter and Shelter Scotland, which focuses on preventing homelessness.

The partnership, which launches this month and is supported by a £1.1 million donation from all four GDNs, will work to tackle the financial issues associated with homelessness, including fuel poverty and debt management, to help tens of thousands of families, and individuals, across England and Scotland.

The funding will go towards existing services which provide expert advice and help to people either at risk of, or already experiencing homelessness, as well as developing new advice content for the housing sector and providing further specialist training for frontline staff.

Polly Neate, Chief Executive at Shelter and Shelter Scotland, explains:

As the number of people trapped in homelessness continues to hit record highs, our frontline teams are working tirelessly to help people find and keep hold of a safe home.

Skyrocketing private rents and a dire lack of social housing have left people across the country struggling to keep a roof over their heads and having to cut back on household essentials.

It's only through the generosity of our partners like the GDNs that we can continue our vital work and provide specialist income and debt advice to prevent more people from being pushed into homelessness.

The partnership will:

  • Provide funding towards the organisation’s emergency helpline to provide support to people who are either already homeless, or at immediate risk of becoming homeless.
  • Upskill Helpline advisers to better identify when people seeking support are experiencing fuel poverty.
  • Equip frontline teams to provide further advice and support for people facing housing-related income and debt problems.
  • Provide expert housing advice in priority communities.
  • Develop a suite of content and practice guides for professionals in the housing sector to provide guidance and signposting advice on where people impacted by the housing emergency can access specialist debt support.  

The funding has been provided as part of the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA). Gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities, will lead the partnership, with Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and SGN joining as partners.

Sophie Shorney, VCMA Manager at Wales & West Utilities, said:

There has never been a more pertinent time than now to come together to tackle the housing emergency we are facing in the UK.

As GDN’s, we are proud to partner with Shelter to support and further their vital work and hope that we can help as many people as possible across communities to tackle the issues they face head on.

The VCMA fund allows us to work in partnership with organisations, like Shelter, to reach more people and provide them with the help they need to ensure they receive the right support, to help keep them safe and warm in their own environment.