Centrica and The Multibank Launch Three-Year Partnership to Deliver Targeted Fuel Poverty Relief and Household Essentials Across the UK

Centrica and The Multibank Launch Three-Year Partnership to Deliver Targeted Fuel Poverty Relief and Household Essentials Across the UK

(IN BRIEF) Centrica has committed £2.4 million over three years to expand The Multibank’s network of hubs and integrate essential household goods distribution with targeted energy support. The initiative introduces new referral pathways into the British Gas Energy Trust, enabling families in need to access energy debt relief, emergency fuel vouchers and white goods grants. The partnership, launched in Lochgelly, Fife, with participation from Gordon Brown, Chris O’Shea and Arabella Weir, aims to provide coordinated assistance to households facing material and fuel poverty. The Multibank, founded in 2022, has already distributed over 14 million items to more than two million families, and the new funding will enhance its reach and operational capacity. The programme combines financial support, community partnerships and corporate volunteering to deliver integrated solutions that help households stay warm, secure and resilient.

(PRESS RELEASE) WINDSOR, 13-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Centrica plc has announced a £2.4 million, three-year partnership with The Multibank aimed at expanding its nationwide hubs and combining essential household goods distribution with targeted energy support. The initiative is designed to help more households across the UK remain warm, safe and financially stable during the winter and beyond.

Under the agreement, Centrica will contribute £800,000 annually to reinforce The Multibank’s core operations, support the launch of new satellite hubs and increase the availability of vital items such as warm bedding, clothing, baby supplies, hygiene products and furniture. By linking these services with structured energy assistance, the partnership seeks to intervene earlier and prevent hardship from escalating into crisis.

A key component of the initiative is the creation of new referral pathways into the British Gas Energy Trust, enabling families identified through The Multibank’s local charity networks to access energy debt relief, emergency fuel vouchers and grants for essential white goods. British Gas, part of Centrica, has been the sole funder of the independent Trust for more than two decades.

The partnership was formally launched at The Big House Multibank hub in Lochgelly, Fife, where former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, honorary president of The Multibank, joined Centrica Chief Executive Chris O’Shea and trustee and actor Arabella Weir to discuss the growing need for coordinated support to address material and fuel poverty.

Gordon Brown emphasised the importance of what he described as a coalition of compassion, bringing together government, business and communities to prevent families from being forced into impossible choices between heating and eating. Chris O’Shea noted that energy debt rarely exists in isolation and is often accompanied by wider financial hardship, highlighting the need for integrated solutions that address both essential goods and fuel costs simultaneously.

Founded in 2022, The Multibank operates six hubs nationwide and works with more than 100 businesses. It has distributed over 14 million essential items — largely sourced from retail return cycles — to more than two million families through a network of over 3,000 local charities. The model not only provides direct support to vulnerable households but also reduces waste by intercepting surplus goods and redistributing them within communities.

Tracey Talbot, Interim CEO of the British Gas Energy Trust, underscored the value of collaboration in delivering more comprehensive assistance, combining debt relief and emergency support with everyday essentials.

Government representatives also welcomed the initiative. Energy Consumers Minister Martin McCluskey MP pointed to ongoing measures such as the extension of the Warm Home Discount and reductions in energy bills, while Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill highlighted the importance of cross-sector partnerships in tackling poverty and improving household resilience.

Beyond financial contributions, Centrica employees will support the programme through volunteering as part of the company’s People & Planet commitment, which aims to deliver 100,000 days of volunteering in local communities.

Through this partnership, Centrica and The Multibank aim to provide integrated support that addresses both immediate material needs and the underlying pressures of fuel poverty, reinforcing efforts to ensure that no family is left without heat, essentials or access to advice during periods of financial strain.

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SOURCE: Centrica plc