Cadent Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £4.2 million (2023)
• Total Given Since 2019: £25+ million
• Decision Time: Not publicly available (strategic partnerships by invitation)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £1,500,000
• Geographic Focus: England only (North West, West Midlands, East Midlands, North London, East of England, South Yorkshire)
• Application Method: By invitation only / Strategic partnerships

Contact Details

Website: www.cadentfoundation.com

Email: enquiries@cadentfoundation.com

PR & Communications: Louise Day, Head of PR & Communications - 07773118357

Administration: Funds administered by Charities Trust (Charity Registration No: 327489)

Overview

The Cadent Foundation was established in July 2019 with Cadent (the UK's largest gas distribution network) committing 1% of annual post-tax profits each year. Since launch, the Foundation has awarded over £25 million in charitable grants. The Foundation's mission is to help households find sustainable solutions to fuel poverty and ensure people are safe and warm in their homes. Operating under a “Force for Good” strategy with three pillars—Easier Warmth, Fairer Opportunities, and Greener Society—the Foundation works exclusively with carefully selected charitable partners rather than accepting open applications. In 2023, over £4.2 million was distributed to charity partners, supporting nearly 38,000 people with energy efficiency advice, income maximization support, and practical measures. The Foundation has been recognized through the Smiley Charity Film Awards and has significantly increased its impact year-on-year, with 2023 showing a 71% uplift in cost savings delivered.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Stay Warm, Stay Well (Groundwork Partnership): £6 million over three years - Supports 14,500 households across England with Green Doctor home visits, energy efficiency advice, and the Green Doctors Academy traineeship program for 35 Green Doctors. Application method: Strategic partnership established through direct negotiation.

Winter Support Fund: £2 million annually (October-March) - Provides emergency relief through food and energy vouchers (up to 2 per household) and heating/cooking appliances for people supported by partnering charities. Distributed through partner organizations, not direct applications.

Citizens Advice Partnership: £2 million grant extension - Expanded from 8 to 17 local offices, providing specialist energy caseworkers and income maximization support with 1:1 advice. Partnership-based funding.

Community Fund: £120,000 starting pot - 21 charities nominated by Cadent employees receive equal portions, with fundraising events throughout the year to enhance the pot. Application method: Employee nomination only (not open to direct charity applications).

Major Partnership Grants: £50,000 - £1,500,000 - Strategic multi-year partnerships with organizations like Trussell Trust (£1.5m for income maximization), RNIB (£250,000), and specialized regional projects. Invitation-based.

Priority Areas

Fuel Poverty & Energy Efficiency: Core focus on helping vulnerable households reduce energy costs through practical measures (33,799 energy efficiency measures installed in 2023), advice, and behavioral change support. Priority given to projects delivering measurable cost savings and income maximization (£5.6m financial gains delivered in 2023).

Financial Wellbeing: Income maximization support, debt advice, and connections to local support services including food banks and benefits advice.

Vulnerable Communities: Focused support for elderly, disabled, unemployed, and people living in deprived areas within Cadent's network regions.

Environmental Sustainability: Green retrofitting, heat decarbonisation projects, and sustainable energy futures (aligned with “Greener Society” pillar).

Social Mobility & STEM Education: Supporting young people into STEM careers through programs like CASE Clubs, In2scienceUK, and Engineering Development Trust partnerships.

Health & Wellbeing: Recognizing the link between cold homes and poor health, funding projects that connect energy support with healthcare services.

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications—organizations are invited to form strategic partnerships. While specific exclusions are outlined in their “Eligibility and Exclusions” document (available on request), the Foundation:

• Only funds organizations registered with the Charity Commission for minimum 2 years with income over £25,000 in the previous financial year
• Geographic restriction: Only funds work within Cadent's network areas in England (no Scotland or Wales)
• Strategic alignment required: Must align with one or more of their Force for Good pillars (Easier Warmth, Fairer Opportunities, Greener Society)
• Community Fund: Currently not accepting direct nominations from charities (employee nominations only)

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Governance and Leadership

Ranjit Blythe, Managing Director of the Cadent Foundation: "It's a mistake for anyone to think that the cost-of-living crisis is over and we've seen, first-hand, through all of our projects, the impact of fuel poverty on the most vulnerable... The impact we have been able to drive over the past five years has far exceeded the expectations we initially set ourselves. But, while we are all incredibly proud of the work we've done with our charity partners to support people living in the most vulnerable situations across the UK, we know there is still so much more to do, with over six million people still living in fuel poverty."

Julia Dwyer, Director of the Cadent Foundation: "Supporting people out of fuel poverty is one of the fundamental objectives of the Cadent Foundation and the Reactive Response scheme offers an innovative new approach to tackling a growing problem... We've learnt a lot throughout the first phase, which supported more than 10,000 households, but being able to fund the training of local people, to advise and guide their own communities on energy efficiency and money management, is really powerful. We truly believe that a solid knowledge of how to optimise the energy efficiency of a home, is the key to alleviating fuel poverty in the long-term."

Linda Minnis, CEO of Charities Trust: Serves on the advisory board of the Cadent Foundation, providing expertise and advice to help grow its future business and social impact.

The Foundation is overseen by Charities Trust, which manages grant administration, conducts due diligence on all organizations, and ensures grants are used for charitable public benefit under a stringent governance structure.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Cadent Foundation does not have an open application process. Grant funding is distributed through:

1. Strategic Partnerships (Invitation Only): The Foundation proactively identifies and approaches organizations aligned with their mission. Every year, the Foundation funds approximately a dozen carefully selected charitable partners, each offering particular specialism or outreach capability.

1. Expression of Interest: Organizations can email a project outline to enquiries@cadentfoundation.com. The Foundation may invite suitable organizations to discuss potential partnerships.

1. Community Fund (Employee Nominations): Employees nominate charities within Cadent's network that align with the Force for Good strategy. Nominated charities are independently vetted by Charities Trust and voted for by employees.

1. Through Partner Organizations: Most support is distributed through established partners like Groundwork, Citizens Advice, and Trussell Trust rather than direct grants to smaller organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. The Foundation operates through multi-year strategic partnerships negotiated directly with selected organizations. Timelines vary depending on the scale and complexity of partnerships.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the invitation-only model, traditional success rate metrics do not apply. The Foundation awarded 100 grants in its first year (2020) and continues to fund approximately 12-15 major strategic partners annually, plus 21 Community Fund recipients.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available. Due to the strategic partnership model, there is no formal reapplication process. Organizations interested in partnership should contact the Foundation directly to discuss potential opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical: The Foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrably align with their Force for Good strategy pillars. Projects must clearly fit within Easier Warmth (fuel poverty/energy efficiency), Fairer Opportunities (social mobility/STEM), or Greener Society (environmental sustainability).

Proven Track Record Required: Minimum 2 years registered with the Charity Commission and £25,000+ annual income demonstrates organizational stability. The Foundation partners with established organizations with existing infrastructure and expertise.

Measurable Impact Essential: The Foundation tracks impact through a live dashboard and publishes detailed impact reports. Successful partners demonstrate quantifiable outcomes—cost savings, number of households supported, energy efficiency measures installed, financial gains from income maximization.

Geographic Coverage in Cadent Network: Must operate within North West, West Midlands, East Midlands, North London, East of England, or South Yorkshire. Regional presence and understanding of local communities is valued.

Multi-Year Partnership Approach: The Foundation favors long-term partnerships over one-off grants. The Groundwork partnership began in 2020 and was renewed in 2024 with increased funding, demonstrating their commitment to sustained relationships.

Innovation Welcomed: Recent examples show the Foundation supports innovative approaches, such as the Birmingham Community Healthcare Partnership's Direct Access to Wellbeing Services (linking cold homes to health outcomes) and the Reactive Response scheme (emergency funding for disconnected households).

Specialist Expertise Valued: Partners are selected for “particular specialism or outreach capability.” Organizations with deep expertise in energy advice, income maximization, or serving specific vulnerable populations (e.g., RNIB for blind/partially sighted individuals) are prioritized.

Use Language of Energy Efficiency and Empowerment: Successful partners emphasize “sustainable solutions,” “energy efficiency,” “income maximization,” and “empowering communities.” The Foundation values projects that provide knowledge and skills, not just immediate relief (as evidenced by Green Doctors Academy creating local energy advisors).

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Don't Apply—Build Relationships: This is not a traditional grant application process. Focus on building a relationship with the Foundation through project enquiries, demonstrating your organization's alignment with their mission, and being patient. Strategic partnerships develop over time through dialogue and negotiation.

• Think Multi-Year, Not Single Projects: Position your proposal as a long-term partnership opportunity rather than a one-off project. The Foundation's largest partnerships span 3+ years and grow over time.

• Demonstrate Measurable Fuel Poverty Impact: If your work doesn't directly address fuel poverty, energy efficiency, or financial wellbeing for vulnerable households, this may not be the right funder. The Foundation's core mission is unwavering.

• Geographic Fit is Non-Negotiable: Only organizations working within Cadent's network areas (specific regions of England) will be considered. Confirm geographic alignment before reaching out.

• Scale and Capacity Matter: With grants ranging from £50,000 to £1.5 million for strategic partnerships, the Foundation seeks organizations capable of delivering significant impact at scale. Small grassroots organizations may find more success through the Community Fund (employee nomination route) or by working as delivery partners for larger charities already funded by the Foundation.

• Emphasize Sustainability and Knowledge Transfer: Projects that build long-term capability (like training Green Doctors from local communities) are particularly valued. Show how your work creates lasting change, not just temporary relief.

• Consider Partner Organizations: If direct partnership seems unlikely, explore whether you could work with established Cadent Foundation partners (Groundwork, Citizens Advice, Trussell Trust, etc.) to access funding and support for your beneficiaries.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• MOTABILITY Foundation
• The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation
• The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• THE CALLEVA FOUNDATION
• THE EVESON TRUST
• THE SIR JAMES KNOTT TRUST
• THE ACCESS FOUNDATION
• The Hill Foundation
• The Powell Family Foundation
• PEACOCK CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE CATHERINE COOKSON CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE HARAMEAD TRUST
• THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATION
• KATHLEEN BERYL SLEIGH CHARITABLE TRUST
• National Lottery
• ACCESS - THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT
• JINGLE JAM
• THE ADA HILLARD CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE ADINT CHARITABLE TRUST

References

• Cadent Foundation official website: https://cadentgas.com/cadent-foundation
• Cadent Foundation Community Fund page: https://cadentgas.com/community-fund
• Cadent Foundation 2024 Impact Report 'Working together for a future without fuel poverty' - referenced in multiple articles including IGEM article "Five years of change: Cadent Foundation's fuel poverty fight" (2024)
• Charity Today News: “Cadent Foundation marks five years and unveils plans to end fuel poverty” (2024)
• Charity Today News: “Cadent Foundation triples impact in fight against fuel poverty” (2024)
• Groundwork UK: “Groundwork and Cadent Foundation announce new £6m programme to support households living in fuel poverty” (2024)
• Charities Trust case study: “Growing giving with The Cadent Foundation” https://charitiestrust.org/success-stories/the-cadent-foundation/
• Charis Grants case study: “Cadent Foundation” https://charisgrants.com/case-study/cadent-foundation/
• Cadent Foundation Archive: https://cadentgas.com/cadent-foundations-archive
• Warwickshire World: “Cadent Foundation to strengthen focus on tackling fuel poverty after announcing record year of support” (2024)
• Charity Today News: “Cadent Foundation Grants £4.8m to Worthy Causes in First Year” (2020)