A Chester-le-Street community centre has taken a step towards a lower carbon footprint and reduced energy bills after using Esh’s ‘Greener Communities’ funding to install solar panels on its building.
Esh Construction launched the grant-making ‘Greener Communities’ initiative earlier this year in partnership with County Durham Community Foundation.
Grange Villa Community Enterprise was formed in 2000 to combat the high levels of poverty, unemployment, and social deprivation in the local area. Within the community centre, the enterprise runs a heavily discounted café, as well as fitness classes and craft sessions.
The costs savings made as a result the solar panels being installed will allow the centre to remain open for longer and improve the availability of services within the local community, including a hot meal delivery service to the elderly.
Jean Blewit, Treasurer at Grange Villa Community Enterprise, said: “Following our successful application for Esh’s Greener Communities programme, we would like to thank Esh Group and all concerned for the £5,000 grant we were awarded which helped towards solar panels being installed at our premises. This has been a huge boost for our community centre in helping towards the rising cost of energy bills. Armstrong Renewables carried out the work in a very professional and timely manner. The committee and staff would once again wish to thank all involved in making our community centre greener.”
Esh Construction is working with County Durham Community Foundation, an independent grant-making foundation, to support a minimum of 10 communities via the Greener Communities programme. A fund of £50,000 was allocated to support projects which are centred around green skills, climate resilience, improving green spaces and habitats.
Grant Whyte, Project Manager at Esh Construction, said: “This project is a perfect example of why the Greener Communities fund was launched. We are proud to pledge the funding to Grange Villa Community Enterprise, helping the community centre become more energy efficient as well as providing more availability of services through the money saved.”
Esh Construction is working within County Durham just six miles away from the community centre at New College Durham. The scheme will deliver a brand-new two-storey extension at the college’s Framwellgate Moor Campus, providing a collaborative and integrated learning space for the delivery of higher and technical level skills qualifications.
This project is a perfect example of why the Greener Communities fund was launched. We are proud to pledge the funding to Grange Villa Community Enterprise, helping the community centre become more energy efficient as well as providing more availability of services through the money saved."
