Call for contributions — open until 12th April
The Energy Poverty Research Network (formerly Fuel Poverty Research Network) invites you to attend and contribute to their 2026 conference, 27th and 28th October 2026 in Manchester and online. The event marks ten years since our first network meeting and is an opportunity to reflect on a decade of collaboration in the context of a rapidly developing field.
Whether you are researching energy poverty or housing, developing policy, or working directly with vulnerable people, this is an opportunity to meet others, share ideas and stories, and engage with the latest developments. We welcome contributions from people working on energy poverty issues anywhere in the world in any capacity, whether established or new to the field.
We are planning a lively and engaging event and therefore welcome contributions in different forms and of varying lengths. Contributions can be on any relevant topic. Please use this list as a guide:
- A lightning talk (10 mins)
A short update on a project, whether research, policy or practice - Research presentation (up to 20 mins): a more detailed presentation including the findings and implications of research conducted in any setting (does not have to be a University)
- Reflections from practice (up to 20 mins): an opportunity provide reflections from your experience working on energy poverty issues
- Comment or provocation (10 mins): your reflections on a current issue in energy poverty research, maybe something that will prompt debate
- Panel or other interactive session (flexible length): propose a discussion on a particular theme, potentially as a workshop or as a panel discussion
- Other ideas – creative and engaging ideas welcome!
Across all of these, and particularly 4 and 5, we encourage you to engage with the ‘looking back, moving forward’ conference theme. All contributions can be delivered in-person (in Manchester) or online, but please consider the practicalities of conducting interactive sessions online.
We are also keen to hear from people who would like to organise ‘hub events’ around the same time in different locations or timezones. Please get in touch if you would be interested in this.
The conference location (within central Manchester) and registration costs will be announced in spring 2026. We are committed to keeping the event affordable, and we anticipate a cost around £100 with a discounted fee available to charities and early career. Online attendance will be free.
Any questions? Please email us on events@fuelpovertyresearch.net
EPRN is run by volunteers. If you’d like to help out with the conference (with preparation, and at the event itself), please get in touch.
Indicative timeline
- 9th February 2026: Call for contributions open
- 12th April: Closing date for call for contributions
- 5th May: Applicants informed if successful and asked to confirm
- 26th May: Deadline for applicants to confirm
- 1st June: Programme confirmed and registration open
- 31st July: Deadline for contributors to register
- 30th September: Final date for registration
- 27th & 28th October: Conference takes place in Manchester and online