National Grid supports local communities through £1.5 million funding
100 community projects along the route of the Hinkley Connection have now received £1.5 million in grants through National Grid's Community Grant Fund. The funding has helped local groups to bring communities together and continue providing opportunities through hard economic times.
The Community Grant Programme was set up to support community groups and charities in areas where National Grid operations and site activity impacts local people.
The funding has been particularly valuable over the last few years due to challenging economic circumstances. Community groups tend to be volunteer led and rely on goodwill from others to operate and continue provide their valuable work to the local area.
Every community has different needs and so the causes of the projects have varied tremendously despite being all united with the single aim of improving the lives of local residents. National Grid’s grants have reflected this by providing funding to a range of causes. View the full list of grants awarded since the start of construction on the Hinkley Connection Project in 2018.
Community groups are the heartbeat of their local areas
Girlguiding Bristol and South Gloucestershire received £13,875 from National Grid to help units and parents afford confidence boosting activities for girls and young women that would not be possible without this funding.
Loxton based charity Frankie Howerd OBE Trust received £40,000 to help isolated residents access vital services and connect with the rest of their community.
Some of the most vulnerable members of society are those who are transitioning out of prison and trying to make a second start in life. National Grid helped Life Cycle UK fund cycle mechanic qualifications to help prisoners secure work after their release this is in addition to a separate adult skills funding that has seen £100,000 awarded to help set up The Key Café which will provide work placements and careers advice to prisoners at HMP Bristol.
National Grid funding is also providing play and sporting opportunities to the next generation. An Olympic sized wheels and skatepark in Portishead received £17,000 as part of its crowdfunding campaign. The skatepark will help keep young people active and enable their passion for the sport.
Jonathan Richardson, Corporate Social Responsibility officer for the Hinkley Connection Project, said:
“We’re proud to go the extra mile to help make a difference to communities that are affected by the Hinkley Connection project.
“This milestone demonstrates our commitment to leaving a lasting positive legacy for the local area.”
Steve Haskayne Hinkley Connection project director added:
“Community groups are the heartbeat of their local areas and provide vital services that help keep residents safe, healthy and in touch with each other,"
Enabling these groups to thrive means there will be a lasting benefit to local communities long after our works have completed on the Hinkley Connection project. With difficult economic circumstances over the last few years this has been even more important and it is fantastic to see how our funding has helped over 100 community projects through these challenging times."
Community groups can check their eligibility and apply for a Community Grant here.
