Southern Water has awarded Community Energy Grants across the region to support community centres energy bills to ensure they can support those in need this winter. The Community Energy Grant is delivered in partnership with our delivery partner CMDP (Costain, MWH Treatment) and is open to independently run community centres and spaces where activities such as local foodbanks, support groups and children’s programmes operate.
Since the scheme was launched in October, we have been inundated with applications for support with energy bills from community centres and spaces including social pantries, homeless drop-in spaces s and arts centres – which provide a home to a wide range of events, support groups, classes, winter warmer spaces and befriender clubs.
Alongside the grant, the hubs will receive support from Southern Water’s community, affordability and vulnerability teams, who deliver talks and advice on topics such as saving money on bills.
One centre will also be selected to receive a comprehensive water audit of their building and advice about how to reduce their water costs in Spring 2023.
Four grants, each with a total of £1,000, are being awarded in each of our five counties – offering a total of £20,000 funding.
This support will go towards energy costs, helping relieve the pressure that community spaces face staying open during winter months.
The centres that have been awarded the community grant this week are:
Kent:
- West Faversham Community Association
- Whitstable Umbrella Community Centre
- Queenborough Town Community Centre
- North Deal Community Company Ltd
East Sussex:
- Clock Tower Sanctuary
West Sussex:
- St Johns Church Crawley – The Bridge Café
- Horsham Matters
Hampshire:
- Monty’s Community Hub
- Clift Meadow Trust
- Petersfield Community Association
- Age Concern Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
- Music Craft CIC
The funding pots remain open in East Sussex, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight for further applications till 15th January 2023 via our website.
Southern Water’s Community Partnerships and Programme Manager, Alex Willumsen said:
“We know that times are hard for many customers now, in the face of a cost-of-living crisis, so we are determined to do what we can to build resilience and support for those facing challenges in our community. Through our grants scheme, which aims to support both customers experiencing hardship and our communities, we are providing funding support to enable community spaces to continue to operate over winter months and support the work of those supporting young people in our communities to thrive.”
Further grants under the Community Grant Scheme will be launched in the coming months, to find out more, click here or email [email protected]. For more information about how we can help anyone struggling this winter, visit our website.