TWO community groups in Warwickshire are feeling toasty thanks to fuel poverty grants.
Northgate Methodist Church in Warwick and Warwickshire Pride have both received cash from National Grid’s Community Matters Fund.
The latest round of Community Matters funding saw a record £2.5million shared among grassroots organisations committed to tackling fuel poverty.
Northgate Methodist Church has been awarded £1,052 to offer a warm space to residents in Brunswick.
Sally Jones, Reverend at the Church, said: “The grant from the Community Matters Fund will make a big difference to our Warm Hub at Northgate project. As a church, we knew we had to use our building as a place where people could come to keep warm this winter but were concerned about the cost of doing so and how we would fund it.
“This grant has taken away that worry so we can now concentrate on giving our neighbours a warm welcome, a hot drink and some food, with a place to relax, read a book, plug in their phone charger and use the WiFi.”
Warwickshire Pride received £4,419 to provide essential warm packs to vulnerable households, including items like radiator bleed keys, heavy curtains, blankets, radiator foil and more.
Pride spokesperson Daniel Browne said: “The grant from the Community Matters Fund will enable us to provide much needed support to LGBT+ people in Warwickshire who are struggling with fuel poverty due to the cost of living crisis. Providing warm packs to those in need will help them to keep warm during winter, which in turn will aid their physical and mental health. Something else this grant will enable us to do is mobilise our community of volunteers to ensure the warm packs reach LGBT+ people wherever they are in Warwickshire.
“We would like to say a big thank you to National Grid Electricity Distribution for supporting this project.”
The latest round of Community Matters funding was launched by National Grid’s electricity distribution business as an urgent response to the national cost of living crisis, which is putting millions of households at risk of fuel poverty.
Alison Sleightholm, Regulation and Corporate Director at National Grid, said: “Tackling fuel poverty is an immediate and pressing priority for us. This year, we’re giving away a record amount to support our most vulnerable. We’re pleased to see the first community organisations, charities and local authorities being awarded their grants. Our multimillion-pound fund is supporting a wide range of worthwhile and ambitious projects which will benefit communities this winter and help families keep homes warm.”
