Proposed revision for trustee approval 4 November 2026
1 Purpose and launch
This policy concerns only the prevention or relief of fuel poverty in the United Kingdom under CEL’s constitutional objects. It is proposed for trustee approval. Applications are not currently open. Awards will begin only when suitable funding and the necessary arrangements are in place.
2 Initial eligibility and permitted use
Initial recipients must be charities whose status CEL can verify and which can deliver agreed UK fuel-poverty work. A charity with wider purposes is eligible only for restricted funding of the agreed activity. Private businesses, CICs and other non-charitable organisations are not eligible under this initial policy. Access to educational resources gives no entitlement or preference.
Permitted expenditure includes household energy assistance for people assessed as being in financial need; practical measures enabling safe and adequate warmth; appropriate household fuel-poverty advice and support; and reasonable delivery costs directly attributable to that work. Grants cannot fund unrelated activity, general business expenses or unrestricted work outside CEL’s purposes. Recipients may not pass grants to businesses as business support. Ordinary purchases needed to deliver the agreed charitable work are subject to the award conditions.
CEL will not make direct individual grants under this initial programme. A future individual scheme requires separate trustee approval, funding and appropriate rules. Energy arrears or spending a particular percentage of income are not automatic eligibility criteria under this policy.
3 Requests and checks
Before inviting requests, the trustees will agree the available budget and how charities can submit a short proposal. The proposal must describe the activity, household beneficiaries, how need will be assessed, budget, delivery period and intended results. No grant portal is required. CEL will check identity and charitable status, governance and relevant interests, financial and payment details, ability to deliver and arrangements to monitor the work. Checks will be proportionate to the amount and risk.
Requests will be assessed by charitable fit, need, capability, reasonable cost and available funds. Receiving charity status alone does not establish that a particular use is eligible.
4 Decisions and conflicts
The trustees will make and record grant decisions under the constitution. A trustee with a relevant conflict will declare it and withdraw as required. There must be a valid unconflicted quorum; otherwise the decision is deferred. No separate grant committee is proposed. Trustees remain responsible for decisions and oversight.
Grant conditions must prohibit CEL funds being used to purchase goods or services from commercial businesses in which a CEL trustee has a financial interest.
5 Award terms and monitoring
A written award letter accepted by the recipient will specify the restricted use and amount, delivery period, payment arrangements, reporting and proportionate evidence of expenditure and delivery. It will cover changes to the work, unused funds, misuse, suspension and repayment. Recipients must obtain written agreement before changing the permitted use.
Monitoring may be a completion report with expenditure evidence for a small, low-risk award, or additional reports and staged payments where needed. CEL will check use and delivery and retain an appropriate record. Concerns must be addressed promptly: the trustees may pause payments, seek clarification, require correction or repayment, and consider any applicable reporting duty. The policy will be revisited before launch and when experience, funding priorities or risks warrant changes.