EIGHT community groups and charities across the country have received grants from Power Partners, a community investment fund from UK Power Networks, in order to become more energy efficient.
This is achieved either by funding building and renovation work to make their buildings warmer and cheaper to heat or train community advisors to provide practical advice to residents in fuel poverty.
Kerry Potter, consumer vulnerability manager for UK Power Networks, said: “After a highly successful first round of Power Partners funding, we are delighted to award eight organisations with grants that will specifically help them to create more energy efficient spaces.
“We’ve already had some fantastic feedback from previous recipients of Power Partners funding who have used their grants to put energy efficient upgrades in place that have already made a substantial difference to cost and energy efficiency.”
The second round of grants from Power Partners sees a total of £113,608 awarded, which brings 2019’s total grants to more than £368,000 shared among 24 community projects.
The recipients of round two of Power Partners funding include:
- Smarden Community Store, near Ashford, Kent £14,376
Innovative eco-shop. Full insulation and solar panels. Will use savings (estimated £2,647) to pay for outreach officer. - Crew Energy, London £13,270
This Energy café run by UCL students will use funds to build skill base of volunteers. - Energise Sussex Coast, St Leonards On Sea £15,000
Funding to support innovative electric caravan to tour isolated communities and reach most vulnerable people. - Holy Trinity Church, Tulse Hill, London £11,689
Fitting of LED bulbs (church already has solar PV). Savings to be spent towards on-going work with elderly, young offenders, debt advice etc.
Recipient of the fund include Smarden Community Store in Kent who are using their grant to install solar panels, extra insulation and an electric vehicle charging point into their innovation eco-shop.
It is estimated the technology will save the community group £2,600 annually in energy costs with the savings used to support a community outreach officer.
The funds were distributed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), an energy justice charity.
“As before, we received many excellent applications from organisations doing great work to support people living in fuel poverty and to make community buildings warmer and cheaper to heat”, Ellie Stevens, project officer at CSE, said.
“And it’s great to be able to support eight of them with significant sums of money – up to £20,000 in some cases; enough to make a real difference.”
Power Partners will reopen for more applications in February 2020.
Visit the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) for updates and more information https://www.cse.org.uk/projects/view/1356
