UHNM and partners scoop national award for pioneering fuel poverty project

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust and its partners Staffordshire Community Energy and fuel poverty charity Beat the Cold have scooped a national award for its pioneering community project which supports vulnerable households while helping reduce carbon emissions.

Keep Warm, Keep Well is a collaboration set up to help bridge the gap between health, energy and community and is a compelling example of how cross-sector partnerships can deliver lasting social and environmental impact.

It was named winner of the Community Energy Initiative at this year’s Regen Green Energy Awards, recognising its innovative work in tackling fuel poverty while helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Today Jenny Branford, UHNM Sustainability Manager, said: “The project was recognised for its innovative approach to tackling fuel poverty and climate change together, improving both energy access and public health. Our partnership with Staffordshire Community Energy has come so far and made such a difference already and we hope to expand our solar panel installation and Keep Warm, Keep Well referral scheme across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent later this year.

Mike Kinghan, founder of Staffordshire Community Energy, said:  "We are absolutely thrilled to have won this award. This recognition reinforces the value of community-led energy solutions that don’t just cut carbon but improve lives."

The Regen Green Energy Awards 2025 took place on Thursday, March 27, at Bristol's Harbour Hotel, celebrating the forefront of innovation in the UK's sustainable energy sector. Lead judge Cathy McClay FREng praised the Keep Warm Keep Well  project for its breadth and ambition, describing it as “an outstanding example of a community energy project where the benefits extend well beyond green energy.”

She said: "It stood out for its innovative model, linking clean energy with public health and delivering measurable improvements in both fuel poverty and patient wellbeing. It’s a replicable, inspiring model for others to follow.”