Community engagement and outreach activity: 2025 to 2026 [HTML]

Their activity included:

attending health and wellbeing events with Dŵr Cymru, Carmarthenshire Older Person’s Day in Llanelli, Newport City Council’s Ecofest Exhibition and attending health condition specific events like the Annual World Stroke Day event in Port Talbot and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Women’s Health and Wellbeing Conference;
presenting to advisers and staff at Christians Against Poverty, Denbighshire County Council’s Power Hour, Maggie’s Cancer Support Cardiff and Transition Bro Gwaun, North Wales Regional Innovation Coordination Hub and Welsh Government’s Lunch and Learn session;
visiting Food Banks and Warm Hubs throughout winter and providing marketing materials for service users;
attending MP and MS events in Clwyd East and Ynys Môn;
presentations and events with diverse community groups including Ceredigion Council Refugee Resettlement Team, reaching Ukrainian households; an energy workshop for carers with the Carer’s Trust and working with Environment Centre Swansea and West Wales Dementia Support;
attending networking meetings held by The Cross-Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, County Voluntary Councils, Health Boards and Local Authorities throughout Wales.

Attending events

Our PDMs attended 299 outreach events and partner meetings in 2025-26. This included attending the Care and Repair Cymru Conference, National Energy Action Cymru's Fuel Poverty Forums, Citizens Advice Advisor Network, Denbighshire County Council’s Uniform Exchange, Association of Local Energy Officer Network (ALEO) meetings and Wales Climate Week. There were a range of health and wellbeing focused events in partnership with local authorities, charities, and support organisations, including Hywel Dda Hospital outreach sessions, Ceredigion Council Youth Service, Co-op Community Fridge, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Safety Day and drop-in days with Planed in west Wales.

Delivering training

The PDMs delivered a total of 55 training presentations to organisations which included Age Cymru, Care and Repair, Carer’s Trust, Citizens Advice, Development Bank of Wales, Swansea Western Bay, Foothold Cymru, Maggie’s Cancer Support Cardiff, Severn Wye Energy Agency and many Local Authority staff throughout Wales.

Direct mail with local authorities

The PDMs worked with 14 local authorities to deliver 16 direct mailing campaigns to promote Nest, which reached a total of 35,609 households. These were Bridgend, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Torfaen. This was an effective way of reaching vulnerable households in or at risk of fuel poverty. The PDMs worked closely with several councils utilising the Welsh Government Low Income Family Tracker data pilot to reach target households with support.

Importance of partnership work for Nest

The PDMs continued to work alongside primary partners such as Age Cymru, Care & Repair Cymru, Citizens Advice Cymru, Dŵr Cymru, E.ON, Money and Pensions Service, SP Energy Networks, Warm Wales and others to ensure residents in Wales were made aware of how to access available support.

Delivering additional benefits

During 2025-2026, the Nest scheme delivered wider social value through partnership working, practical support and employee volunteering:

Activity contributed to four core outcomes:

creating employment and training opportunities;
supporting education, equality, diversity and inclusion;
building capacity within community organisations; and
supporting supply-chain development.

The primary focus was helping community organisations respond to identified needs and strengthening the facilities, resources and opportunities available within communities across Wales. Activity was aligned with four priority themes: Digital Inclusion, Community Regeneration, Biodiversity and Welsh Language.

Supporting families and community organisations

When CWTCH Baby Bank South Wales identified an urgent shortage of clothing for newborn babies, Nest colleagues responded by donating new and high-quality preloved items.

The support enabled the Baby Bank to fulfil outstanding referrals and distribute essential clothing directly to families. It also strengthened the organisation’s ability to respond during a period of increased demand.

Improving community facilities

Nest volunteers worked alongside Blaenau Gwent Social Services to improve the outdoor space at Augusta House, a purpose-built respite facility for adults with learning disabilities. Volunteers built a bespoke bench, repaired fencing, installed screening and helped improve the garden.

Nest also donated sensory features, lighting, outdoor furnishings and a water feature. The completed sensory garden provides a welcoming and lasting outdoor resource designed to support relaxation, sensory engagement and independence.

Improving the local environment

Nest coordinated volunteers for the Big Spring Clean along Section 7 of the Taff Trail, between Aberfan Cemetery and Aberfan Fawr, Merthyr Tydfil.

Nest colleagues worked alongside volunteers from the Energy Saving Trust, BT and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The activity was delivered in partnership with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and Keep Wales Tidy South East.

Volunteers collected 25 bags of waste (on this one section), contributing to 384 bags collected across the wider initiative. The activity delivered a visible improvement to a well-used community route and demonstrated the value of collaborative environmental action.

Supporting young people

Nest colleagues volunteered through a British Gas education programme delivered in partnership with Team GB, ParalympicsGB and We Are Futures.

More than 80 students from the Ebbw Fawr catchment area took part in activities exploring energy efficiency, sustainability and the positive contribution young people can make at home, in school and within their communities.

Nest employees also volunteered through Careers Wales to conduct mock interviews for Year 10 learners at Afon Taf High School and Cyfarthfa High School in Merthyr Tydfil.

The sessions gave learners practical interview experience, constructive feedback and an opportunity to develop their confidence and communication skills in preparation for future education, training and employment.

Welsh language and accessible information

Nest continued to promote Welsh-language learning and use across workplace and community-facing activity.

This built on previous progress, including 411 additional hours of Welsh-language learning. Customer information about Solar PV and Air Source Heat Pumps was also developed and translated, helping customers access clearer information and make informed decisions.

Inclusive employment

Nest maintained Disability Confident Employer Level 2 status, reflecting its continued commitment to inclusive recruitment, retention and workforce development.

Community wellbeing

Nest colleagues supported seasonal and community-led activity, including foodbank collections, care-home engagement, Christmas outreach and local community events.

This activity provided practical assistance, supported community connection and strengthened relationships with organisations responding to local needs.

Looking ahead

During 2026-2027, Nest will build on this work by:

developing partnerships that respond to emerging community needs;
prioritising projects that provide lasting benefits to community organisations;
improving access to digital tools, skills and connectivity;
continuing to promote Welsh-language learning and accessible information;
expanding environmental and biodiversity volunteering opportunities; and
strengthening how community outcomes and longer-term benefits are recorded.

The focus will remain on practical activity that complements existing community provision and creates sustainable social value across Wales.