Drax Foundation, the charitable arm of renewable energy company Drax, has published its Social Impact Report 2025, revealing a £3.1 million investment in communities and non-profit organisations, supporting more than 118,000 people across the UK, United States and Canada.
Working with 251 non-profit organisations and community groups, Drax Foundation funding is helping to deliver practical support for households, create opportunities for young people, and improve local environments in the communities where it operates.
Shona King, Head of Social Impact at Drax said: “Our work in 2025 shows the difference strong partnerships can make in local communities. By working closely with organisations at a grassroots level, we’re helping people build skills, reduce energy costs and access nature – delivering meaningful support where it is needed most.
“We’re proud to have supported over 118,000 people and remain committed to partnering with organisations who create a lasting and positive social impact.”
Key achievements from 2025 include:
- Supporting over 118,000 beneficiaries through funded programmes
- Delivering £3.1 million in charitable giving
- Funding 251 non-profit organisations and community groups
- Reaching 45,000 people through more than 1,000 community engagement activities
Tackling energy costs and fuel poverty
With energy affordability remaining a critical issue across the globe, Drax Foundation supported programmes have delivered significant cost savings and support:
- Schools achieved an average 64% reduction in electricity bills
- Around £1 million in energy costs was saved across participating schools
- 1,156 households have been supported with fuel poverty services
Dr Claudia Towner, CEO of Energy Sparks, said: “The ongoing funding from the Drax Foundation will allow participating schools to embed energy saving behaviours across their school communities and provide more opportunities for children and young people to develop green skills.”
Drax also partnered with the Fuel Bank Foundation in 2025, to support families in crisis, helping more than 1,100 households access emergency fuel vouchers and advice, with many reporting improved wellbeing.
Matthew Cole, CEO of the Fuel Bank Foundation, said: “The emergency fuel vouchers create the breathing space that the advice provided by Fuel Bank can be acted upon and, where appropriate, we will also offer an onward referral for additional support.”
Investing in future skills and education
The Drax Foundation has continued to invest in future talent and skills development through partnerships with organisations, including Teach First and community programmes in the UK and North America:
- 28,140 children participated in STEM education programmes
- 2,260 adults engaged in skills and employability initiatives
- 155 in-school STEM sessions delivered by employees
In the US, Drax Foundation funding supported Southern University in Louisiana, helping to expand access to STEM learning and urban forestry programmes for students from underrepresented communities.
Robert Easly Jr., Director of Advancement at the Southern University Ag Centre, said: “This funding reinforced a critical message: agriculture is more than just farming, it is innovation, sustainability and leadership for the future.”
In North Yorkshire, near to Drax Power Station, Foundation funding has directly supported employability workshops through SKILLZ, a local organisation who help to build confidence and career readiness for young people.
Kirsty Copley, Company Director at SKILLZ, said: “Support from the Drax Foundation enabled us to run our first 10-week employability group mentoring programme… young people developed employability and soft skills, including teamwork, problem-solving, confidence, job searching, CV writing and interview skills.”
Driving environmental and nature-based outcomes
Drax Foundation supported projects also delivered significant environmental impact across its regions.
In Yorkshire, Drax partnered with the Canal & River Trust to tackle invasive species along the Selby Canal, funding volunteer programmes and specialist removal work.
Sean McGinley, Regional Director at the Canal & River Trust, said: “This funding has enabled us to bring in a specialist team and equipment earlier than usual – stopping the weed before it took hold – and to purchase a floating pontoon, enabling safe access to hard-to-reach areas.”
In another UK conservation initiative, Drax supported the reintroduction of 74 endangered corncrakes in the Lower Derwent Valley, helping restore biodiversity in one of the country’s most important grassland habitats.
Across all nature-based programmes:
- 34,862 people engaged in nature-based learning
- 15,000 people gained improved access to green spaces
ENDS++
Read the full Drax Foundation Social Impact Report here
Notes to editors
- The Drax Foundation Social Impact Report outlines Drax’s community investment and impact across the UK, US and Canada.
- All 2025 impact figures are projected based on programme data, and will be independently verified in 2026.
Media contacts:
Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected]
T: 07729092807
About Drax
Drax’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. Our strategic aims are to be a global leader in both carbon removals and sustainable biomass pellet production, and to be a UK leader in dispatchable, renewable generation.
Our operations
Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low-carbon and renewable UK power assets – biomass, hydro, and pumped storage generation – which provide dispatchable power and system support services to the electricity grid.
We are the UK’s largest source of renewable power by output, and Drax Power Station is the UK’s largest single source of renewable electricity by output.
Through our pellet production facilities in North America, Drax is a leading integrated producer of sustainable biomass. Drax has 18 operational and development pellet production sites which will have a nameplate capacity of around 5.4 million tonnes once expansions are complete.
Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK industrial and commercial customers, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.
