Grants available for fuel poverty and carbon emissions reduction projects in Bath and surrounding areas.

In Jan 22 a team of more than 100 volunteers came together to plan 81 fruit and nut trees, along with 300 native copse trees and 220 metres of native hedging.

26.09.2022

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Local projects cutting carbon or tackling fuel poverty while improving our local environment can now apply to the Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) Fund grant programme.

This popular grant programme is back for a tenth year, thanks to funding from BWCE as part of the work it does in supporting local communities.

Applications for grants of up to £5,000 are invited before the 4 November 2022 deadline.

Award-winning BWCE was set up in 2010 to own and develop 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 Quartet Community Foundation to administer the BWCE Fund grant funding programme, giving grants to community groups and local environmental organisations.

Earlier this year 11 B&NES projects received £31,706 in funding to lower carbon emissions address fuel poverty. These grants supported:

• Energy efficiency in community buildings through helping to replace boiler systems with sustainable alternatives (First Steps and Freshford Memorial Hall), installation of an air source heat pump in a new community café (Bath City Farm) and additional building insulation (Percy Community Centre)
• Sustainable food growing through a sustainable water supply system (Corston Community Orchard), a food garden (B&NES Carers Centre) and a solar powered barn (Middle Ground Growers)

• Environmental educational through building support for climate action in local families and schools (FACE), helping younger children to repair, reduce and reuse (Bath Share & Repair) and running repair-and-reuse cafe community events (Trowbridge Environmental Community Group)
• Domestic energy efficiency through household energy surveys (Zero Carbon Compton).

Sophie Hooper Lea, Chair of Trustees Trustees for BWCE Fund, said: “We are in the midst of a climate crisis and a cost of living crisis, and we need to do everything we can to address them both. The BWCE Fund offers grants to local projects that make a tangible difference to our local communities by reducing carbon emissions or tackling fuel poverty. The funds are provided by BWCE, a member owned social enterprise that provides clean, renewable, community energy. Thanks to BWCE, since 2015, the fund has awarded 82 grants worth almost £250,000 through this grant programme.”

Quartet’s Philanthropy Manager, Anela Emms said: “We’re delighted to be working with the BWCE Fund. As the impact of the cost of living crisis is increasing, 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.”

Full details of the grants awarded in previous years can be found on BWCE’s website