Grant helps church to turn up the heat
Inefficient system left groups in the cold
COMMUNITY groups in Earl Shilton have been left with a warm feeling thanks to a county council grant.
Earl Shilton Methodist Church was awarded a Leicestershire County Council Shire Grant worth more than £9,000 over four years to improve the heating system in its church hall.
The facility is used almost daily by different community groups who will all now benefit.
The hall now has a replacement boiler as well as new radiators and pipework, meaning that rooms can be heated individually as required.
Previously, a single-pipe system meant that the whole building had to be heated, irrespective of the number of rooms being used which was inefficient.
Members of the Women’s Institute, a local history group, playgroups, Brownies and Guides are among the beneficiaries.
Peter White, property secretary for Earl Shilton Methodist Church, said: “The grant has ena- bled us to replace the whole heating system in the hall, which is used by many six or seven days every week.
“As each room can now be separately and more importantly, efficiently heated, we are now able to gradually reduce our heating and energy bills, as well as provide more comfortable rooms and areas for the hall users.
“Without the Shire Community Climate Change Grant, all the users of our church hall would still be without a comfortable warm environment for their activities.”
Voluntary labour was used as much as possible to dismantle the old hall heating system, keeping project costs down to a minimum.
Shire Grants are available for groups looking to improve the energy efficiency of their community buildings, thus reducing their carbon emissions, and cutting their negative impact on climate change.
County Councillor Pam Posnett, cabinet member for the environment, said: “We encourage applications from organisations and groups in the county who want to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, as well as reduce running costs.”
Eligible projects include energy audits, installation of heating systems, roof or cavity wall insulation and renewable energy systems.
Groups eligible for the grant include parish councils, community groups, faith groups, charities and village and community building management committees .
There is no closing date for applications for the grant to be lodged however applications are encouraged to be made sooner rather than later.
Applicants are also warned only a proportion of the project can be paid for with the grant with the remaining costs being provided from other funds or grants.
To find out more call Nailesh Ramaiya on 0116 305 8111 or visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/community-grants or email Nailesh. Ramaiya@leics.gov.uk