One Call, That’s All: One Year On
The Utilita Giving staff team, funder and founder, trustees and patrons
We had a fantastic and inspiring day on 4th December at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, bringing together delegates, speakers, partners and frontline organisations to reflect on the first year of the One Call, That’s All (OCTA) pilot – and to look ahead at what comes next in tackling fuel and food poverty.
Why this matters
In just 12 months, 2,960 people have turned to OCTA during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. The pilot was designed to provide easy access to personalised, long-term support, combining financial and practical help in a way that is dignity-enhancing and genuinely transformational.
OCTA aims to remove barriers, simplify access to help, and provide holistic, joined-up casework so that families and individuals don’t have to fight for support when they need it most.
Highlights from the day
The conference brought together voices from government, charities, research, and lived experience, all united by a shared commitment to long-term solutions.
Ministerial Keynote
Martin McCluskey MP opened the day with an insightful keynote, sharing reflections on government priorities and progress, while recognising the important role that OCTA plays in supporting people in crisis.
Chair of the Day – Derek Lickorish MBE
Derek expertly chaired the event, guiding discussions with clarity and drawing on his extensive experience in the energy sector to deepen conversations throughout the day.
OCTA Year 1 Impact Review
Helen Boardman and Ryan Miemczyk presented the Year 1 Impact Review, taking delegates through the design, strategy and learning that have shaped OCTA from the outset. Alongside our learning partners at Trust Impact, we explored how robust data and evidence are helping us understand what works – and why.
Fireside Chat: Fuel & Food Poverty
A powerful conversation between Adam Scorer and Charlotte Hill OBE explored the realities of fuel and food poverty, including:
The root causes and systemic drivers
Barriers faced by people experiencing poverty
Shifting trends and policy changes
The wider impact on education and life opportunities
What long-term, sustainable support can look like
The discussion highlighted the collective responsibility across society to break the cycle of poverty.
OCTA: Place-Based Focus
Helen Greig (Trust Impact), Salma Khan (CEO, Luton Foodbank), Eilidh Stringer (Action Homeless), and David James MBE shared their experiences of place-based work and community-led solutions. We heard directly from our charity partners about the life-changing difference that funding full-time post-holders for two years has made to their organisations and the people they support.
David James MBE also reflected on the global perspective, sharing lessons from his work in Malawi – including the power of education in nutrition and community-led food growing. A shared theme was clear: collaboration changes lives, and sustained investment in people and communities makes real impact possible.
Next Steps: Scaling OCTA
Helen Boardman and Bill Bullen explored what it will take to scale OCTA, highlighting the instrumental role of Utilita Energy as funder and founder of Utilita Giving, and the importance of long-term, collaborative investment in driving system-level change.
Panel Debate: Driving Impact on Fuel & Food Poverty
Matt Stevenson-Dodd chaired a thought-provoking panel discussion with Utilita Giving trustees Louise Thomson, Mark Curtin and Frazer Scott. The panel reflected honestly on:
Governing an innovative, young charity
Learning as you grow
Using impact data to shape decisions
Encouraging others to take bold, different approaches
They also shared their ambitions for OCTA as it enters its second year
The day also showcased the UGive shop – a simple, powerful way for people to stand alongside the households we support. Every act of giving helps fuel a movement of people who don’t want to see neighbours go cold or hungry. If you still haven’t had a chance to give and would like to, please visit UGive.
Looking ahead
One year of One Call, That’s All, and the impact is already life-changing. But this is only the beginning.
If you’re interested in partnering with OCTA in Year 2, or becoming part of our growing community of givers, Helen Boardman, our Executive Director, would love to hear from you.
Together, we are creating a model of support that brings dignity, hope and practical help to the people who need it most.
