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Energy fund provides £40k to help charities cut carbon emissions across B&NES

February 28, 2024 Nick Batten

3 min read

Bath & West Community Energy Fund (BWCE Fund) has awarded £40,500 in grants to reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.

The money will go to 10 local charitable and community organisations in Bath and the surrounding areas.

Community-owned Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) develops renewable energy projects and is set up to provide local community benefits. For the tenth year running BWCE has given a portion of its surplus income from renewable energy generation to the independently run BWCE Fund for the benefit of local communities.

Quartet Community Foundation administers the grant programme on behalf of BWCE Fund.

The grants will be used by local charitable and community organisations on a range of important projects, intended to cut carbon emissions, reduce energy bills and waste and help with the cost of living crisis by tackling fuel poverty.

Sophie Hooper Lea, Chair of Trustees for the Bath & West Community Energy Fund, said, “Like so many of us, local charities are becoming more environmentally conscious and want to play their part in reducing carbon emissions in their own organisations and within local communities. The BWCE Fund provides funding for projects that are climate-friendly, which often has the added benefit of saving money as organisations face soaring costs due to inflation and the cost of living crisis.

“Since 2015 the BWCE Fund grant programme administered by Quartet Community Foundation has awarded 101 grants worth over £310,000. Those grants have all gone to local organisations doing vital work to benefit our local communities as well as the environment.”

Angela Emms, Philanthropy Manager at Quartet Community Foundation, said, “Charities are increasingly feeling the ongoing impact of rising costs and rising demand. We’re delighted to continue to work with the BWCE Fund to award these grants to groups across the B&NES area. The increased support provided through the BWCE Fund enables these projects to protect the environment while enabling people to reduce their fuel bills and energy consumption in a low carbon way.”

Warm kit donations (Genesis Trust)

Grainne Moher from Genesis Trust Bath – one of the recipients of the funding – said, “we are delighted to receive a BWCE grant this winter to help us distribute vital items to help people keep warm during the colder months. Items will be distributed through Bath Foodbank and Life Projects, both of which support people in crisis. We are keen to supply items that will be of most use to individuals and families instead of supplying a standard “kit.”

“We are working with local suppliers wherever possible, and the grant will help provide items such as hot water bottles, flasks, solar chargers, hand warmers, hat/scarves/gloves and blankets. Thank you very much to BWCE for this vital support.”

The 10 B&NES projects offered funding are: