Powering Communities to Net Zero fund

The Eassie, Nevay and Kirkinch Community Association will be putting its £17,100 award towards solar PV and battery storage at its community hall.

The Mull and Iona Community Trust serves the Ulva Ferry community on the Isle of Mull; it’s one of the most isolated areas in the UK. The Trust successfully applied to the fund to support the installation of solar panels and battery storage on two social homes in the community. The Trust received £19,110 from the fund and the equipment is already installed and supporting residents.

The Hawk Conservancy Trust is a long-established conservation charity and visitor attraction. The Centre welcomes 65,000 visitors annually, and operates a Birds of Prey Hospital, which treats and rehabilitates sick, injured, and orphaned birds. The trust is also home to a visitor centre and community space.

The Hawk Conservancy Trust has installed solar panels on its centre; after it received £19,100 from the fund towards this project.

Penny Snout from the Trust says, “We’re so grateful for the grant and the difference it is making for our venue and the planet. In the first couple of months since the solar panels were installed, we’ve already produced 5.7MWh electricity.”

Meanwhile, Abbotswood Community Association has already installed an environmentally-friendly heat pump and air conditioning / heating units at its community centre, helped by £12,000 from the fund. Sue and Laura (below) are among the members of the local community benefitting from the newly-installed equipment; the Association told us that on some of the hottest days of the year of 2025 so far, the air-conditioning was being entirely powered by their solar panels and battery! 

Aultbea Community Hub has received £20,000 to install solar panels on the roof and battery storage to improve the energy efficiency of the hub.

Evanton Community Trust has received £20,000 to install Solar PV and battery storage for the village’s Jubilee Hall, which sits northwards of Inverness.

Dorne & District Community Trust's project has been awarded just over £16,000 to install an air-source heat pump and other energy efficiency measures at a community hub.

The Keltybridge & Maryburgh Water Association project is receiving £8,250 to purchase and install battery storage to ensure continuous water treatment capability in the event of a power outage.

The North Uist Development Company will install Solar PV and battery storage on the Environmental Centre at the former Lochmaddy Primary School with its £20,000 funding. 

The Brechin Buccaneers group received £4,038 to purchase sandbags and emergency equipment to help bolster local resilience.

Carnoustie Community Council is purchasing flood prevention equipment and a portable generator with its £5,486.

Finavon Flood Action Group has received £15,000 and will be using its funding to install flood barriers in key locations in Finavon including reinforcement of the existing bund.

The Strathmartine Community Resilience Forum was awarded just over £12,000 to purchase community flood kits for distribution to individual vulnerable households and storage space for the equipment.

Newbury Flood & Drainage Action Group received £15,000 to purchase flood prevention measures for vulnerable members of the community, including flood sacks and air brick covers.

Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs received £9,934 to help buy rescue and resilience equipment and conduct training to support water rescue volunteers in Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Tongue, Melness & Skerray Community Council will be using its £7,882 to buy portable backup power stations and firefighting equipment.

After significant flooding in October 2023 on the Isle of Wight, Ryde Town Council sought advice from the local Emergency Planning Team as well as community groups and businesses. The planning undertaken led to an award of £10,355, to purchase flood prevention measures to increase resilience and support recovery after storm damage.

The team at Walls Community Hall are using their £6,000 award to stock up on mobile communications equipment which will be used to support the most vulnerable members of the local community.

South Nesting Community Hall’s award will be used to install an external generator connection socket with changeover switch.

The Hebridean Trust will use its £11,918 to undertake electrical works in the Martin Boyd Exhibition Hall to create a multi-purpose community hub, with the upgraded centre becoming a venue for the local community to keep warm, have a meal, and stay safe during an emergency.

Wiltshire Search and Rescue received £38,564 to replace emergency rescue and communications equipment combined with undertaking a significant training programme for volunteer operatives.

Britford Parish Council received a grant of £15,000 to contribute towards flood prevention measures including the construction of a bund and associated works.