Gas company provides Centres for Warmth
Regional gas distribution company Cadent maintains gasworks in 11 million homes and businesses and across 317 constituencies in the UK – including Blackpool South. They replace, maintain, and repair gas pipes to ensure safe and reliable gas flow. On my recent visit to their Clifton Road site they also demonstrated to me that they take their social responsibility seriously too.
The North West team, including customer operations area manager Kevin Thompson, head of external affairs Laura Weldon, head of investment planning Mark Syers, and Kate Ravenscroft - sustainability and social purpose stakeholder specialist, showed me around the site.
They gave me an update on the work taking place currently, including progress on their 30-year Mains Replacement Programme, replacing old iron and steel gas mains, of which Cadent are in the 20th year. Some of the pipes currently being replaced are 100 years old and will be replaced with new, safer plastic pipes that should reduce the need for disruption caused by emergency repairs. This project will see Cadent invest £800 million across the next five years to upgrade 420,000 metres of pipe in the North West – equivalent to 2,100 Blackpool towers.
Cadent has a strong ethos of social responsibility. It works on multiple projects to ensure customers' safety and actively works towards having a greater, positive impact on its customers and communities.
Cadent's front-line workers are trained to recognise signs of vulnerability, including fuel poverty, allowing them to offer a range of support through the Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance fund.
The Centres for Warmth project, funded by VCMA, supports vulnerable individuals by partnering with local charities in areas of high deprivation. They provide workshops and group sessions in community centres to educate residents on fuel poverty, energy efficiency, and the dangers of carbon monoxide. The project also offers practical classes on things like slow-cooking and how to maximise income.
There are four community centres and hubs hosting these events, you can find all the details here:
Claremont Park Community Centre
Home Start at Business First Business Centre
Additionally, The Cadent Foundation aims to build a future for individuals in fuel poverty. Since 2019, they have provided grants to a number of charitable organisations to support financial wellbeing and improve the energy efficiency of their home, so far, supporting 35,000 people living in vulnerable situations.
