Community Partnering Fund 2022

Leeds Community Foundation is pleased to work with Northern Powergrid on the Community Partnering Fund. The Fund supports Community Organisations with innovative approaches to delivering sustainable initiatives that help to educate and support communities and individuals on the following: 

• • • • Alleviating hardship associated with fuel poverty and promoting innovative energy-related environmental impact and energy efficiency 
      • Supporting Community Hubs with crisis planning 

• • • • Developing learning pathways/support in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects and related career opportunities 
      • Supporting communities to lower their carbon footprint 

With the cost-of-living crisis exacerbating issues that worsened during the pandemic, the number of people experiencing poverty continues to rise. 21% of low-income households in the UK have gone without both heating and eating properly. Alleviating hardship associated with fuel poverty and supporting people to be more energy efficient is greatly needed.  

The latest round of Community Partnering Fund, which ran in the autumn of 2022, invested almost £100,000 in 7 Community Organisations across the north. Many of the funded activities address fuel poverty and energy efficiency. 

The organisations that were awarded funding are: 

• • • • Basis Yorkshire, Leeds 
      • Carers Together Foundation, Redcar and Cleveland 
      • Harrogate and District Community Action, Harrogate 

• • • • Pitsmoor Adventure Playground, Sheffield 
      • Tadcaster Volunteer Cars & Services Association, Selby 
      • York Community Energy, York 
      • Your Voice Counts, Gateshead 

The funded activities include: 

• • • • Educating older people, people experiencing fuel poverty and people made vulnerable by their mental or physical health about energy efficiency, electrical safety and the Priority Services Register. 
      • Increasing capacity for a one-stop energy shop, supporting people with dealing with energy suppliers and bills, energy saving advice and measures, fuel vouchers and more. 
      • Developing a ‘Carers Financial Wellbeing Service’ for unpaid carers, which provides a range of practical and emotional support services to help carers who are, or are at risk of, experiencing poverty or financial exclusion. 
      • Designing and delivering accessible energy awareness workshops for people who have learning disabilities and who are autistic. 

Projects will run for one or two years, and we look forward to sharing about the impact of the activity once complete. 

For more information on grants awarded, visit the What We’ve Funded page.