The Next Generation innovation fund from Power to Change offers successful applicants the chance to benefit from research and development support, grant funding up to £100,000 and the chance to be part of a peer network which facilitates learning and dissemination between community businesses and the wider energy sector.
Six community energy businesses have entered the Research and Development (R&D) stage of the programme’s second round. They will all now receive help to identify major risks to projects, map and analyse stakeholders, develop a strong business plan, and review capacity and governance agreements.
The community businesses are:
- Burneside Community Energy Regeneration Project, Cumbria
- Carbon Co-op, Manchester
- CREW Energy
- Gloucestershire Community Energy Cooperative
- Plymouth Energy Community
- Bath & West Community Energy
You can find out more about the Next Generation Fund and the community businesses we are working with here.
Will Walker, Energy Programme Manager at Power to Change, said: “We’re very excited to get going with supporting the second round of innovative community energy business models. There may be some risks along the way in exploring untested new models, but in doing so we hope to help lay the foundations of financially sustainable and thriving community energy businesses.
“Ultimately, we believe they have a significant role to play in our collective response to the climate emergency and reaching a net zero economy whilst building community resilience and addressing local needs.”
ENDS
About Power to Change
Power to Change is the independent trust that supports community businesses in England.
Community businesses are locally rooted, community-led, trade for community benefit and make life better for local people. The sector owns assets worth £890m, and comprises 9,000 community businesses across England who employ 33,600 people. (Source: Community Business Market 2019)
From pubs to libraries; shops to bakeries; swimming pools to solar farms; community businesses are creating great products and services, providing employment and training and transforming lives. Power to Change received its endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2015.
www.powertochange.org.uk @peoplesbiz
For more information please contact: Alex Valk 07384 812777 alexv@www.powertochange.org.uk
About The National Lottery Community Fund
We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.
We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.