A very big Thank You to NORTHERN POWERGRID Foundation.
Without their help it would not have been possible to have our brand new generator in place ahead of the winter season.
In partnership with Wooler Parrish Council, The Cheviot Centre is now fully equipped to support Wooler and the surrounding communities in case of any major emergency event.
The below article has been widely shared by Northern Powergrid Foundation…
A Generator for Future Generations
A 130-year-old building got an energy boost thanks to grant funding to give it a resilient future.
The Cheviot Centre, located in the picturesque town of Wooler in North Northumberland, has been serving the community for 130 years, whether that be when it was a Victorian workhouse or a central hub for the community of Glendale as the home of The Glendale Gateway Trust.
The centre houses a mixture of offices and community space for gatherings, events, conferences and workshops for those in the town and the surrounding area.
It also houses the Police Station, library and Newcastle Building Society.
But due to the vital services offered from the centre they began looking at ways to make the centre resilient to power interruptions and to further support its residents for generations to come.
That’s when they were alerted to the grant funding available for resilience projects in the North East, Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire via Northern Powergrid Foundation.
Northern Powergrid Foundation is the charitable arm of Northern Powergrid, and passionate about being able to support innovative organisations and community projects addressing energy-related challenges including fuel poverty, energy resilience and the net zero transition.
Karen Froggatt, CEO of The Glendale Gateway Trust, has welcomed the arrival of a generator at the centre for its services to support the community during power interruptions
“Working together with Wooler Parish Council our plans to further our role as an emergency response hub for local residents and vital services have come to fruition with the Foundation funded generator to go alongside our solar panels and battery storage. The existing kit didn’t have enough capacity to support the whole centre, but the generator can now support this. It’s great to have additional technology in our old building to keep the centre open to host services and residents. The centre tries to accommodate the community‘s needs, but we can’t do this alone, we are fortunate to have received funding to support our resilience project.”
The Glendale Gateway Trust for the Cheviot Centre received £20,000 to fund a generator to help safeguard the centre users and wider community of Glendale, Northumberland, during emergency events.
Trustees from Northern Powergrid Foundation are celebrating their ability to support those who really need it and making sure that others are prepared this winter.
Jodie Coe, Northern Powergrid Foundation Trustee, said “It’s wonderful to hear about the Cheviot Centre’s upgrade! The installation of a generator is a great step towards energy resilience. It’s positive to see how grant funding from Northern Powergrid Foundation is empowering communities to address their energy-related challenges.
“Karen and the team at the Cheviot Centre are doing an incredible job ensuring the centre remains a vital hub for the town and surrounding area. The technology will provide a reliable power source during interruptions and a safe space, which is crucial for community activities and emergencies.”
