£10k grants to help tackle fuel poverty

The National Grid is offering up to £10,000 to charities and groups in Bath facing fuel poverty this winter.

A record-breaking £2.5 million fund has been ring-fenced to help vulnerable customers, as an “urgent response” to the cost-ofliving crisis that is affecting households across the South West. Fuel poverty charity, the Fuel Bank Foundation, said it had seen a 75 per cent rise in the number of people needing help this year.

Now, the National Grid is urging local charities, councils and community groups across Bath to apply for grants to tackle fuel poverty. They can get up to £10,000 from the special fund.

This is the latest round of grants from National Grid’s annual Community Matters Fund.

Alison Sleightholm, regulation and corporate director at National Grid, said: “We are looking to support, and partner with, community groups and organisations to achieve positive change, and we welcome funding applications from diverse community groups and organisations.”

Charities and community groups will also have access to a range of free training and energy efficiency advice materials, which they can tailor and share with their communities, to support planned or existing projects. Support will be given to projects including, but not limited, to warm banks; energy efficiency guidance and products like insulation installations, updating heating systems.

Registered charities, community groups and local authorities are all eligible to apply, using the application form available at www. nationalgrid.co.uk/communitymatters-fund. National Grid will consider applications for sums up to £10,000. Closing date for submissions is Monday, October 31.

Follow the fund on social media: #Gridcommunityfund.