Principal retrofit contractor Sustainable Building Services Ltd (UK) Ltd (SBS) is working in partnership with Leicester City Council to support residents affected by fuel poverty through the council’s Winter Warmth Packs and Fuel Vouchers scheme.
Through the partnership, SBS will contribute almost £13,000 over the next two and a half years, aligning with the delivery period of the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme in Leicester. The funding will support the provision of winter warmth packs and fuel vouchers during the winter months, helping residents manage energy costs and stay warm during periods of greatest need.
The initiative builds on an existing fuel poverty project led by Leicester City Council and will be delivered over three consecutive winters, ensuring support is targeted and sustainable. Packs and vouchers will be distributed through the council’s established energy advice drop-in clinics, held at community venues across the city where residents already access advice and support.
Since delivery began in late November 2025, more than 115 winter warmth items have already been distributed through the clinics, with the council expecting to support around 150 residents each year with the funding available.
Daniel Owens, Regional Director at Sustainable Building Services (UK) Ltd, said: “Proactively supporting residents through winter is a vital part of tackling fuel poverty, otherwise there is a risk of people suffering in silence. By contributing to Leicester City Council’s Winter Warmth scheme alongside our delivery of the Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme, we can provide immediate help where it’s needed most, while also supporting longer-term improvements to home energy efficiency. It’s a practical example of how social value commitments can deliver real benefits for local communities.”
Eligibility for the scheme is intentionally straightforward. Residents qualify if they meet one of several criteria, including being in receipt of means-tested benefits, having a long-term health condition, being over 60, being a single-parent household or having a household income below £31,000. This approach helps ensure support reaches households most vulnerable to fuel poverty, while remaining accessible across the city.
To ensure support is delivered in a way that is accessible, secure and people-focused, Leicester City Council is delivering the scheme through Charis. Charis works in partnership with local authorities to help residents access practical support at times of financial pressure; access to support is straightforward and dignified, ensuring warmth packs and fuel vouchers can be issued directly to residents.
The winter warmth packs and fuel vouchers are provided as part of a wider package of energy and retrofit advice, ensuring residents receive both immediate practical support and longer-term guidance on reducing energy use, cutting bills and improving home comfort.
Lucy Birch, Energy Projects Manager at Leicester City Council, commented: “Winter can be an especially difficult time for residents affected by rising energy costs and financial pressures. This partnership with Sustainable Building Services allows us to extend practical support through our winter warmth packs and fuel vouchers, delivered alongside trusted energy advice in community settings. By working together, we can reach people who need help most and provide support that is timely, targeted and easy to access.”
SBS’ contribution forms part of the company’s wider social value commitments, aligned to its work delivering large-scale retrofit and decarbonisation programmes across the UK. By working closely with local authorities, SBS aims to ensure that investment in energy efficiency delivers positive social outcomes as well as positive environmental impact.
