Are you part of a local community organisation that wants to shrink its carbon footprint or address the real issues of fuel poverty and climate change?

You could apply for up to £5,000 through the Bath and West Community

Energy Fund (BWCE Fund) grant programme.

The funding for the grants comes from Bath & West Community Energy (BWCE) as part of the work it does in supporting the communities in which it operates.

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.

Last year, nine projects received over £28,000 in funding to lower carbon emissions and address fuel poverty. Carbon reduction does not just relate to energy projects; it might also include local food, sustainable transport or waste reduction or any activity that reduces carbon emissions.

Sophie Hooper Lea, Chair of Trustees for the BWCE Fund, said: “As

communities work together to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, we will now consider applications for projects that increase the resilience of communities in a way that also reduces carbon emissions.

“BWCE contributes a huge amount to the local environment and economy by generating clean,

community-owned energy and paying interest to its members as a return on their investment.”

Quartet Community Foundation’s Philanthropy Executive for Bath and NES Claire Wynne Hughes said: “We’re delighted to be working with BWCE Fund.

“Many of the projects will help increase the resilience of communities and some will reduce the energy costs of the funded organisations, helping them to carry on providing important community services and facilities well into the future.”

In January 2020, Bath Mind Greenlinks were awarded a BWCE Fund grant toward the cost of a greenhouse and reskinning a polytunnel for their Greenlinks eco-therapy allotment project and the Food for Thought catering enterprise.

Bath Mind’s Ailsa

Eaglestone said: “A grant from the BWCE fund has enabled us to purchase a greenhouse, soil, materials and seeds on our Monksdale Road allotment. This vital new space is growing even more produce to support our Food for Thought catering social enterprise.

“Our participants continue to develop their horticultural and growing skills, whilst having a safe space to meet, make new connections and friends, thrive and contribute to their local environment.”

Groups are invited to apply to the BWCE Fund grant programme before 2nd November 2020.

Interested projects need to apply through the Quartet Community Foundation website: quartetcf.org.uk/grant-programmes/bath-west-community-

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