ECOE Director Andy Extance and Exwick Community Centre chair of trustees Trevor Sharp celebrate last year’s ECOE community fund award
After a successful sixth year of ECOE’s Community Fund, it is now open for applications again. The fund is available for local community projects to apply for financing that help to address the climate emergency and promote social justice. This time, for 2024/2025 we have a total of £5,000 available.
Over the past seven years, the Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) Community Fund has played a crucial role in supporting local groups working on clean energy initiatives and addressing fuel poverty in Exeter and surrounding areas. Since its inception, the fund has consistently provided financial aid to organisations that align with ECOE’s mission of promoting sustainability, reducing carbon footprints, and enhancing social welfare. Drawing on the income generated from our ten solar power sites, along with donations from ECOE members and surplus income from our Healthy Homes for Wellbeing project, we have been able to make a significant impact in our community.
How to apply
For applications for 2024/2025, the details regarding who can apply, for what and our criteria for the allocation of the grants can be found in the guidance notes on our community fund page. The deadline for applications is December 15, 2024. We will check all applications to see if they meet our criteria. A group made up of ECOE members, directors and partners from rooftop solar sites, local community groups and local statutory organisations will judge the proposals. If you would like to be a part of that group, please volunteer at info@ecoe.org.uk. We will announce the winners at the end of February 2025.
If you have any queries email info@ecoe.org.uk.
Summary of Funding Achievements
Since the Community Fund’s inception in 2017, ECOE has distributed a total of £36,381 in grants to 29 local organisations. These funds have been used to support a wide range of projects, from improving energy efficiency in community buildings to running educational workshops on renewable energy.
2023 Community Fund Recipients
In 2023, the ECOE Community Fund awarded £9,549 to four local groups. These grants have enabled a diverse range of projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and sustainability. The groups funded this year include:
- Exwick Community Centre: Awarded £3,024 to enhance insulation in their community centre, ensuring greater energy efficiency and comfort for users throughout the year.
- Hurly Burly Nursery: Received £5,000 to install a new heating system featuring air-source heat pumps and electric radiators, crucial for maintaining a warm environment in a facility located in an area of high deprivation.
- LOVE Food CIC: Granted £1,000 to run cookery sessions teaching participants how to prepare affordable, healthy meals using minimal electricity, helping to foster a more energy-conscious community.
- Pippins Community Centre: Awarded £524.58 to improve energy efficiency in a Grade II listed building by installing secondary glazing, sealant strips, and thermally insulated curtains.
These awards demonstrate ECOE’s commitment to not only reducing energy consumption but also to empowering local organisations with the resources they need to make sustainable choices that benefit the wider community.
