Projects to help cut carbon or tackle fuel poverty while improving the environment are now able to apply to the Bath and West Community Energy Fund grant programme.
The programme is back for a ninth year, thanks to funding from the Bath and West Community Energy Fund (BWCE) as part of the work it does in supporting local communities.
Applications for grants of up to £5,000 are invited before the 5th November 2021 deadline.
BWCE was set up in 2010 to develop and own renewable energy projects and has since become one of the largest community-owned energy companies in the UK.
As a Community Benefit Society, it gives surplus income to the BWCE Fund, which has asked the Quartet Community Foundation to administer the funding programme, giving grants to community groups and local environmental organisations.
Earlier this year, eleven B&NES projects received over £33,000 in funding to lower carbon emissions and address fuel poverty. The grants went to a range of projects including those:
- Encouraging people to reduce waste, such as Bath Share & Repair
- Food and growing projects, such as Youth Connect South West
- Cutting carbon emissions from local buildings, such as Fairfield House
Sophie Hooper Lea, Chair of Trustees for BWCE Fund, said: “This is a decisive decade for climate action and our fund is here to help charities and community organisations to play an important and much-needed role in reducing carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty.
“Each year community-owned renewable energy company BWCE donates surplus income to the BWCE Fund for us to distribute to vital local projects.
“Since 2015, the BWCE Fund has awarded 69 grants worth almost £207,000 through this grant programme and we are very grateful to BWCE and its members for providing this funding.”
Angela Emms, Quartet Community Foundation’s Philanthropy Manager for Bath and North East Somerset, added: “We’re delighted to be working with BWCE Fund. As the government warns of a difficult winter ahead due to rising fuel costs, this grant programme has the double benefit of supporting projects which reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
“Carbon reduction does not just relate to energy projects; it might include local food, sustainable transport or waste reduction or indeed any activity that reduces carbon emissions.
“This year we would particularly welcome applications relating to fuel poverty/affordable warmth, ensuring that everyone can access and afford energy this winter.”
Earlier this year Peter Pan Pre-school in Bath received £777 through the Bath & West Community Energy Fund grant programme.
The money helped them set up a bike, scooter and pram shed to encourage families to use sustainable transport for their commute to the pre-school.
Clare Moon, Chair of Trustees at the Peter Pan Pre-school said: “The bike and scooter shed has encouraged people who always drove to pre-school to walk some or all of the time.
“Before, 16% always drove. After the shed installation, 100% walked at least once a week. Being able to safely secure bikes and scooters made commuting quicker and easier and meant parents did not have to struggle to carry scooters back home along with prams.
“The funding and the shed installation has encouraged conversations among our families about the value of reducing car use and the health benefits of exercise. Our early years education reinforces the benefits of active travel.
“Families say that the shed installation has helped them get more family exercise and made commuting more relaxed and enjoyable.
“This not only benefits their health and wellbeing but also has some impact on local roads at pick up and drop off times.”
Interested projects need to apply through the Quartet Community Foundation website here.
