Purpose

Community energy fund donates £33K to cut carbon emissions in Bath region

January 27, 2021 Nick Batten

2 min read

For the seventh year running, the community-owned Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) has given a proportion of its surplus income from renewable energy generation to the independently run BWCE Fund for the benefit of local communities.

This year the fund has awarded £33,300 to 11 Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) projects to help them reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. Quartet Community Foundation administers the grant programme on behalf of the Fund.

The BWCE Fund grants go to a range of projects including those encouraging the reduction of waste, such as the Bath Share & Repair, gardening projects, such as Youth Connect South West and those cutting carbon emissions from local buildings, such as Fairfield House.

Sophie Hooper Lea, Chair of Trustees for the Bath & West Community Energy Fund, said, “It can be very difficult for organisations to get funding for environmental projects at the moment because many funds are prioritising Covid response projects. So it really matters that a fund like this exists to support local organisations that are reducing carbon emissions and helping to tackle the climate emergency under such difficult circumstances.

“Since 2015 the Fund has handed out 69 grants worth over £207,000. Those grants have all gone to local organisations that are doing vital work to benefit our local communities as well as the environment.”

Angela Emms, Philanthropy Executive at Quartet Community Foundation said, “Many local projects are facing growing demand twinned with falling income. We’re delighted we can help BWCE Fund award these grants to groups across the B&NES area. This will help protect the environment while dealing with the impact of Covid restrictions that we all face.”

Lorna Montgomery from Bath Share & Repair – a recipient of the grant – added, “We are so excited to be given this opportunity, thanks to BWCE Fund, for this pilot project to encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint. It will help families to understand more about how the ‘stuff’ we buy and throw away contributes to around 20% of carbon emissions – significant!”

Funds were also awarded to the following projects: