With 30 per cent of adults reporting being in financial difficulty in Cumbria, funding for a project to tackle fuel poverty has been announced.

The Cadent Foundation is allocating £6 million to the community charity Groundwork, with the aim of providing 14,500 in-home consultations and support to vulnerable households through their 'Green Doctors' programme.

This funding represents the largest award the Cadent Foundation has made to date, facilitating the ‘Stay Warm, Stay Well’ program to run for the next three years.

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The project will cover households in Barrow-in-Furness and South Lakeland as part of a broader scheme spanning regions of the North West, as well as the West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England and North London.

The program will offer practical advice on energy savings and behaviour change and provide referrals to support services.

The immediate need for support is currently heightened, due to the high cost of living and energy prices continuing to soar.

A recent survey by Groundwork revealed that 94 per cent of Green Doctors have been aiding homes that do not use their central heating at all, while 85 per cent had worked with individuals resorting to less food or only consuming cold meals.

Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK chief executive, said: "This new funding from the Cadent Foundation couldn’t be coming at a more important time.

"Feedback from our Green Doctors is that they’re visiting an increasing number of people who are taking drastic measures to make ends meet – from skipping meals to living in permanently cold, damp homes – with many falling into debt."

Julia Dwyer, director of the foundation, added: "The impact from our initial partnership which began in 2020, has been incredible to witness, particularly as the work of energy advisors has been vital throughout the cost-of-living crisis.

"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."

Groundwork has also developed a new section on its website to offer clear, simple advice on energy-saving methods, staying warm and reducing bills.