FILL those holes and plug those gaps in your village hall or community building! That is the advice from local electricity company Western Power Distribution (WPD) who are offering communities in their network area a share of a £50,000 grants jackpot to help them achieve it.

The WPD Community Chest grant scheme is a partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) who will administer the initiative and provide expert advice and support.

Community groups within WPD’s distribution area which serves the Midlands, South Wales and the South West of England, can apply for the cash help.

Tracy Carr, the company’s Community Liaison Officer explained: “The Community Chest grant scheme is designed to help a range of groups take simple but effective energy efficiency measures to not only reduce their energy costs but also reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings they use for their activities.”

The maximum award for each successful group will be £1,000 and will enable community groups to insulate loft spaces, install energy monitors, insulate windows and doors, fit effective heating controls or install low energy lighting.

Morgan Kuivala, Project Manager from CSE said: “We are delighted that WPD is operating the scheme for a third year. Simple things like insulation upgrades and improved heating controls can make a big difference to the running costs and green credentials of community buildings. But until now there have been very few places community groups could go to fund these basic improvements.”
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CSE has put together a simple application process along with some energy survey guidance notes for interested groups. Please visit the Community Chest webpage at www.cse.org.uk/wpdcc for further information and to download an application form and energy survey audit form.

Tracy Carr added: “Our community buildings are often the backbone of our towns and villages. They can support a wide range of activities for people of all ages and they have a positive impact on local people. So we would encourage all non-profit making community groups to take a look at the website and apply for one of the grants. They could be a few clicks away from a grant which can improve their local community building and save them money.”

The Community Chest has now awarded over £84,000 to various beneficiaries across WPD’s network area. These include village halls in Devon and Ceredigion and a Guide and Scout Centre in Warwickshire. Don’t miss out – download the application pack today!

Communities to benefit from £50,000 energy efficient scheme

(The 2012 Community Chest scheme is now closed)

Fill those holes and plug those gaps in your village hall or community building! That is the advice from local electricity company Western Power Distribution; and they are offering communities in their network area a share of a £50,000 grants jackpot to help them achieve it!

The Community Chest grant scheme has been launched by WPD in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) who will administer the initiative and provide expert advice and support.

Community groups within WPD’s distribution area which serves the Midlands, South and West Wales and the South West of England, can apply for the cash help, as Tracy Carr, the company’s Community Liaison Officer explained.

“The Community Chest grant scheme is designed to help a range of groups take simple but effective energy efficiency measures to not only reduce their energy costs but also reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings they use for their activities.”

It will enable community groups to insulate loft spaces, install energy monitors, insulate windows and doors, fit effective heating controls and install low energy lighting. The maximum award for each successful group will be £1,000.

Janine Michael, Head of Development for CSE said:“We are delighted that WPD is operating this scheme for a second year. Energy efficiency measures – such as insulation and improved heating controls – should be the bread and butter for any carbon saving scheme, with renewable energy technologies added as the jam. Yet until now there have been very few places community groups could go to fund these basic improvements.”

CSE have put together a simple application process along with some energy survey guidance notes for interested groups. Please visit the CSE website www.cse.org.uk/wpdcc for further information and click on the WPD Community Chest link to download an application form and energy survey audit form.

Added Tracy Carr: “Our community buildings are often the backbone of our towns and villages. They can support a wide range of activities for people of all ages and they have a positive impact on local people. So we would encourage all non-profit making community groups to take a look at the website and apply for one of the grants. They could be a few clicks away from a grant which can support their local community building and save them money.”

The Community Chest awarded grant applications totalling £34,000 in 2010/2011 to various beneficiaries across WPD’s network area at the time. These included a bowling club in Somerset, a community association in Devon, a community centre in Bristol and a community project in Swansea. Don’t miss out – download the application pack today!