SFHA renews strategic partnership with Changeworks and Warmworks

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has renewed its partnership with Changeworks and Warmworks.

Building on the success of the past two years, the third year of the strategic partnership will enable Changeworks and Warmworks to continue to scale up their support to SFHA members to deliver affordably warm, energy efficient homes for their tenants.

The partnership renewal comes at a critical time for the social housing sector, which is facing a changing policy landscape and significant uncertainty around national net zero targets and funding.

Housing associations and co-operatives are striving to support tenants amidst the cost-of-living and climate crises. Changeworks’ and Warmworks’ respective expertise on improving the energy efficiency of homes and tackling fuel poverty through tailored support, advocacy and advice has therefore never been more important.

Changeworks is Scotland’s leading environmental charity with over 35 years’ experience in delivering high impact solutions for low-carbon living. The charity works collaboratively with partners, organisations and householders to drive transformation in energy efficiency and to tackle fuel poverty. Changeworks has worked with over 20 registered social landlords since 2022.

Warmworks is a joint venture partnership between Energy Saving Trust, Changeworks and Everwarm which is committed to providing affordable warmth and increasing energy efficiency in homes across the country.

Since being founded in 2015, Warmworks has supported more than 40,000 homes across the country to be more affordably warm through the installation of energy efficiency improvements in the homes of its customers.

“Now is a key time to develop and deliver the solutions for decarbonisation and enable a just transition to net zero.”

SFHA Chief Executive Sally Thomas said: “SFHA is delighted to renew and strengthen our strategic partnership with Changeworks and Warmworks and build on the great success of the last two years.

“We know that their expertise on improving the energy efficiency of homes and tackling fuel poverty is invaluable and will be even more so in the years ahead.

“Scotland’s housing associations and co-operatives have been leading the way in the decarbonisation of our homes. With proposed legislation such as the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Standard (SHNZHS) and the Heat in Buildings Bill on the horizon, as well as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, our partnership with Changeworks and Warmworks will be essential in supporting our members and tenants.”

Catherine Palmer, Net Zero Development Lead at Changeworks, said: “We’ve seen great decarbonisation progress in the sector and are committed to supporting SFHA members to help meet legislative targets and achieve impactful results.

“Now is a key time to develop and deliver the solutions for decarbonisation and enable a just transition to net zero. We will continue to innovate and develop our services across strategic decarbonisation planning, archetypal and stock analysis, project delivery and tenant advice to help existing and new SFHA members support their tenants to achieve affordable warmth in their homes.”

“We’re at a crucial junction in Scotland’s journey to net zero.”

Ross Armstrong, Warmworks Chief Executive, said: “Our partnership with SFHA and Changeworks has been successful in strengthening closer working relationships with social landlords..

“We’re at a crucial junction in Scotland’s journey to net zero – one that relies on the input and collaboration of social landlords to decarbonise their housing stock. The partnership between SFHA, Changeworks and Warmworks offers the knowledge, expertise and experience to help deliver this.

“We’re excited to continue working in close collaboration with our strategic partners in the year ahead to help tenants live in warmer, more energy efficient housing.”