Northumberland's Stocksfield Community Association utilised funds provided by Northern Powergrid Foundation to install storage batteries at the community centre.

The Foundation has invested £860,000 in community energy solutions in its first year of operation, and assisted 60 community initiatives tackling energy issues such as fuel shortage, energy resilience, and the switch to net-zero energy sources.

Barbara Brayshaw, chair of trustees at Stocksfield Community Association, said: "The funds from the Foundation have allowed us to improve energy efficiency, decrease gas consumption and will reduce our energy bills by utilising the energy stored in the batteries to support the evening activities when the centre is predominantly used.

"If our power is ever disrupted, our batteries could keep the centre open for some time, enabling us to support our local community".

The funds from the Foundation has been used to fund a range of ventures, from free energy-efficient housing to fitting solar panels and battery storage at community centres.

Joe Docherty, chair of the Board of Trustees for the Northern Powergrid Foundation, said: "This has been a really exciting first year for the Northern Powergrid Foundation and we have been proud to support such innovative and impactful energy projects at the heart of our communities.

"Energy is central to people’s day-to-day lives. With so many challenges facing communities across our diverse region, we are committed to scaling up our support this year.

"We are excited to look forward and see how we can help empower communities to become more resilient, support with their net zero transition, and scale up innovative solutions to fuel poverty."

The Northern Powergrid Foundation's efforts are generating benefits.

Successful endeavours like those in Stocksfield have inspired others across the North East, Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire.

The Foundation wants to support projects projects across its three funding priorities; community resilience, fuel poverty innovation, and net zero networks.

It is encourages organisations that are addressing these specific issues across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire to visit its website to learn more about eligibility and grants, with the next funding window opening on 2 April 2024.

For more information, go to northernpowergridfoundation.com.