The Edinburgh-based social enterprise’s 2025-26 impact report sets out the scale of this work, supporting households to manage increasing energy costs, improve their homes and tackle fuel poverty, alongside its role delivering energy efficiency and home retrofit programmes for organisations across the energy and housing sectors.

In 2025-26:

• 61,385 households received energy advice 
• 12,145 homes were supported to install energy efficiency measures 
• More than 1,500 people experiencing fuel poverty received in-depth advocacy and support.

Over the same period, Changeworks’ Affordable Warmth Services helped households secure more than £1 million in savings through income maximisation, billing advocacy and financial support via grant applications for energy costs.

The impact of this support is reflected in feedback from householders:

• Nearly three-quarters (73%) said they felt warm in their homes after receiving support, compared with just over a quarter (28%) beforehand. 
• The proportion saying worries about energy costs were affecting their health or happiness fell from more than eight in ten (85%) to four in ten (39%). 
• Six in ten householders (61%) said their worry and stress about dealing with energy issues had reduced.

The importance of this support is further underlined by new polling commissioned for Changeworks that showed more than a third (37%) of Scots are seriously worried about being able to afford their energy bills this winter.

From tomorrow, the energy price cap will rise by 4%, increasing the annual cost for a typical household paying by Direct Debit from £1,663 to £1,723. The cap is now forecast to rise by a further 25% at the next review in January, putting further pressure on household energy bills. 

With around a third of Scots living in fuel poverty and energy debt at crisis levels, this underlines the importance of combining immediate support for households with longer-term action to improve the energy efficiency of homes, helping households stay warmer, healthier and more comfortable by reducing the risk of damp, mould and heat leaking out.

Josiah Lockhart, chief executive of Changeworks, said: “Earlier this year we warned that many households had already reached the limit of what they could cut back. Unfortunately, just as people prepare for winter, they are once again facing higher energy bills.

“Our latest impact report shows the growth in the support we deliver across Scotland and the wider UK, from helping households manage energy costs and access financial support to improving the energy efficiency of their homes. There is, of course, still much more to do. 

“We need sustained and increased investment in energy efficiency programmes, scaled up support for households experiencing fuel poverty and debt, including the reintroduction of the Fuel Insecurity Fund. We also need policies that reflect the higher energy costs faced by rural and island communities, reform of the energy price cap, and targeted protections such as a social tariff to better support households most at risk.

“As winter approaches, we are urging anyone worried about their energy bills to seek support now. Help is available through energy suppliers and organisations such as Changeworks and Home Energy Scotland, including support to manage energy costs and make homes warmer and more energy efficient.”

The impact report is the first from Changeworks against its 2025-30 strategic plan and reflects the organisation’s role as a trusted delivery partner for social landlords, local authorities, energy companies, distribution network operators, funders and technology and innovation partners across the UK.

Since 2013, Changeworks has worked with local authorities and communities through Energy Efficiency Scotland: Area Based Schemes, managing more than £110 million in funding and supporting the installation of more than 25,000 energy efficiency and low-carbon technology measures.

Changeworks recorded £12.2m in turnover in 2025-26 and has almost 40 years’ experience supporting households and delivering energy efficiency programmes. The social enterprise is now looking to work with partners across Scotland and the wider UK to scale its impact, expanding the delivery of programmes that can help more households improve their homes, manage energy costs and tackle fuel poverty.