As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on an extraordinary year of growth, collaboration, and impact at Lightning Reach. Since our launch, over 160,000 users have accessed our platform, collectively receiving £17.6 million in financial support - an average of £700 per person. For many, this has been a crucial lifeline during challenging times.
View our full impact summary here
A year of collaboration and expansion
This year, we celebrated several milestones that deepened our mission to connect people with the support they need, when they need it most. We’ve doubled our network of partner organisations, which now includes over 50 local councils, housing associations, charities and corporations. These partnerships have empowered us to reach more people in need, delivering impactful solutions that save time, provide dignity, and offer financial relief.
One of our most significant initiatives has been the launch of the Winter Warmth Network, a collaboration of over 90 organisations (and counting) doing our part to better support the 6 million individuals facing fuel poverty this winter. Through webinars, solution-focused sessions, and engagement activities, we’ve united councils, housing associations, and charities to collaborate on innovative strategies to tackle the energy crisis and its impacts on vulnerable individuals.
Slashing admin time by 90% for councils and housing associations
Our work with local councils and housing associations demonstrates the tangible impact of these collaborations:
Lambeth Council has used Lightning Reach to streamline support for over 4,400 residents to date. With our platform, the average time per client interaction has been reduced from 45 minutes to just 5 minutes, resulting in significant administrative savings. More importantly, we’ve helped identify £218,000 in financial awards and £319,000 in benefits eligibility, delivering life-changing support to residents.
One support worker shared, “The best thing about this service is that our tenants feel seen. They are given what they need at the right time.”
Link Housing has reached over 380 tenants through our platform, with an impressive 95% of them self-serving. By giving tenants the ability to independently access resources, Link has empowered them to take control of their situations, and given Link staff back more time to focus on delivering the next level of support.
Rhona from Link noted, “Lightning Reach offers tenants a discrete solution, giving them the tools to find help themselves and the autonomy they want.”
These partnerships are just a snapshot of how we’ve worked to remove barriers to support for individuals and families.
Empowering people at scale
Since our launch, we’ve processed over 36,000 applications directly through our portal, helping users access a wide range of financial and non-financial support. Each application represents a story of resilience and hope, and the cumulative impact is monumental: thousands of people across the UK have received help when they needed it most. Read Park Home Warm Home Discount awardee Kathy's story here.
Looking ahead
As we approach 2025, our focus is clear: scaling our impact even further. With the continued growth of initiatives like the Winter Warmth Network and the addition of new partnerships, we are ready to meet the challenges ahead. We’re deeply grateful for the trust and collaboration of our partners, the dedication of our team, and the resilience of the individuals we serve.
Together, we’re building a future where no one is left without the support they need to thrive. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Join us
Want to find out more about how Lightning Reach can help your organisation? Get in touch via www.lightningreach.org/partners
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