Electricity North West awards £9k to Rochdale community group

Helen Seagrave at Halton Hydro, a previous winner of the fund

A Rochdale community group has been awarded £9k to help support Manchester's energy needs through local community schemes.

Power network operator Electricity North West has awarded the funds to Deaf Rhinos from its popular Powering our Communities scheme.

Deaf Rhinos, who cover North Manchester, will use the £9,000 for a project which aims to empower and engage individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing in the transition to a low carbon future.

The fund, now in its sixth year, supports the development of community and local energy initiatives in the region to help make them a reality.

Helen Seagrave, Electricity North West’s community energy manager, said: “We understand and recognise the role community energy has to play in the North West.

“It’s a key fundamental to ensuring our region meets its future energy needs and net zero targets. Ensuring those targets are met requires everybody to play their part and the winning projects will undoubtedly benefit thousands of people in the North West.”

Community energy are local and community-led projects or initiatives to reduce, manage, generate or purchase energy. This covers anything from providing energy saving advice to installing solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points.

After handing out just over £83,000 in this round of funding, through its Powering out Communities scheme, Electricity North West has awarded more than £500,000 to 39 groups and organisations across the region.

“We were really impressed by the range of applications we received,” added Helen Seagrave.

“The approved projects will undoubtedly make a difference in their local communities, and I can’t wait to see the outcomes.”