Bonny Downs Community Association today announced a new partnership with Cadent to help struggling Newham families navigate the cost of living and fuel crises this winter.

Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, manages 80,000+ miles of pipes transporting energy to 11 million homes and businesses around the country. As part of their ‘Centres for Warmth’ strategy, Cadent have generously awarded £52,972 to BDCA so that the charity can continue providing support services for those families in East Ham who are worst hit by escalating costs. Cadent’s contract partner Morrisons Energy Services will also support the centre over the next 12 months and beyond.

In particular, this funding will enable BDCA to continue delivering a free ‘Family Hub’ drop-in group which is open to all parents raising young children on very low incomes. The service runs from 9:30am – 1:30pm every Thursday during term time at The Well Community Centre. It offers free 1-2-1 advocacy appointments, debt and benefits advice, cooking and craft workshops, and donated children’s clothes and toys for under-5s.

Jess Craig, Director of Innovation at Bonny Downs Community Association, said:

“The whole BDCA team are so excited to be chosen as the first London-based charity in Cadent’s new national network of ‘Centre for Warmth’ hubs!

Cadent have not only gave us the money we needed just in time to prevent our Family Hub group from closure; they also gave us hundreds of free energy-efficient slow cookers to distribute, and they drove down to give our mums training about ways to spot the signs of dangerous carbon monoxide leaks in their homes.

The Cadent team – especially Lucy, Ed and Amanda – really have gone above and beyond to help us and we are truly grateful for their investment and collaboration.”

Edward Allard and Lucy Nembaware from the Cadent project team said of the partnership:

“We are very proud to be supporting BDCA to continue their amazing Family Hub service. This will now continue to offer essential support to many Newham families over what many expect to be a difficult winter as communities navigate the cost of living and fuel crises.

Cadent’s funding will enable allow households to continue to access essential advice, free carbon monoxide alarms and support with energy-efficient slow cooking.”

If you, or a family you know in Newham, would benefit from BDCA’s Family Hub or other support services this winter, please visit bonnydowns.org/support for more information.