Sussex-based community benefit society Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) is delighted to have been awarded a three year grant of almost £300k in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
The funding will enable Energise Sussex Coast to facilitate and support community-led action on fuel poverty and climate change – empowering communities to respond to the immediate energy crisis by increasing the provision of supported peer-to-peer energy advice, as well as increasing the number and impact of community-led Community Energy projects in East Sussex.
This means ESC are able to fund a new project training and mentoring volunteer Energy Champions in the local area, giving them the knowledge and skills to assist people in their communities with their energy bills and to save energy. All new Energy Champions will receive ongoing training and support from an ESC Energy Advisor.
The funding will also support communities to start their own energy projects, providing mentoring and support to get them off the ground. Projects could be putting solar on the roof of a local school, a group buy scheme, retrofit projects, renewable heat, or community decarbonisation.
ESC Director Kate Meakin celebrated the news:
“This funding is invaluable in helping us to expand the support we offer to communities. We’ve recently received the award for Fuel Poverty Action from Community Energy England and have been nominated for the Community Energy Initiative award at the Green Energy Awards for what our work has achieved so far. We’re over the moon to be able to provide greater support to people across East Sussex at such a crucial time.”
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive.
During the pandemic, in 2020 alone, The National Lottery Community Fund distributed almost £1 billion to charities and community organisations across the UK.
For more information please contact kate@energisesussexcoast.co.uk or visit www.energisesussexcoast.co.uk
Energise Sussex Coast
Energise Sussex Coast is a community benefit co-operative. Our mission is to act co-operatively to tackle the climate crisis and energy injustice through community owned renewable power and energy saving schemes.
The National Lottery Community Fund
People use this funding to do extraordinary things, taking the lead to improve their lives and communities. Every time you buy a National Lottery ticket, you help make this happen.
Communities come in all shapes and sizes, and National Lottery funding is there for everyone.
There are 12 distributors of money raised by the players of The National Lottery, which fund projects and activities that transform communities, protect our heritage, and enrich lives through arts, sports and culture.