Communities receive grants to become greener
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
A community centre in Wakefield has been able to make sustainable energy improvements to its building thanks to a climate change grant.
Wakefield Council, working together with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Nova Wakefield District, have distributed funding to voluntary, community and social enterprise groups through the WYCA Community Grants for Climate Activity Fund.
Funding of between £5,000 and £50,000 was available for projects that prioritised:
• Local, clean, and flexible energy solutions
• Healthy, affordable and efficient community buildings
• Walking, cycling and public transport
• Green and climate-ready nature solutions
“We know that we need to work together to meet the ambitious carbon reduction targets we have set, both for the Council and the district.
“These grants support our local communities to reduce their carbon emissions, making vital changes that they might have struggled to afford before.
“This will help to improve the quality of life for everyone - cleaner air, healthier people and buildings that are warmer and cheaper to run.”
Cllr Jack Hemingway
Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change
Portobello Community Centre was one of 12 community groups to be awarded funding and have already had their solar panels and battery storage installed.
Sarah Cutts, Manager of the Centre, said: “It has been a smooth and straightforward application process, and it will save us money on our energy bills which is really important to us.
“The installation of the solar panels and battery storage only took a morning and has been working successfully since. The whole project has been a great success. We’re really pleased with the results.”