Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how the Welsh Government is supporting third sector organisations on whom it relies to deliver the Welsh Government’s Warm Homes Programme, who are working to tackle fuel poverty but are experiencing short-term and unstable funding?
The core services in the Warm Homes Nest scheme are delivered under contract by three organisations. The Energy Saving Trust provides free, independent advice to all households, carries out community engagement and manages a network of referral partners, and conducts eligibility checks; British Gas is our deliver agent responsible for installing energy‑efficiency and heating system improvements across Wales; and Pennington Choices provides assurance services. More than £30 million has been allocated to Nest for the coming year.
We work closely with a network of partner organisations who, through their work in the community, identify vulnerable households and refer them to Nest for support. We value the contribution they make in ensuring our support reaches the people who need it most.
I would advise any third sector organisation facing funding issues to contact WCVA or their local County Voluntary Services Council, as they can provide a range of help and advice on issues such as sustainable funding and governance. All third sector organisations can also access the Funding Wales portal. This is a free to access database that provides information on local, regional and national funding opportunities.