New £20,000 community fund for Whitby and surrounding area

Charities, voluntary and community groups in Whitby and the surrounding area can now apply for a share of a new £20,000 fund.

Part of the Hydrogen Village programme – a project to heat homes in an area of Whitby with low-carbon hydrogen – the fund has been developed by local gas network Cadent in partnership with Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA).

The Hydrogen Village Community Fund is part of a commitment by Cadent to ensure the project delivers wider opportunities and benefits focused on the local community.

Up to ten local organisations will be able to apply for the funding to support initiatives that make a positive difference in the local community.

Organisations can apply for grants of up to £2,000 each.

The grants can either be used for existing services or activities or new projects that support (or align closely) to one or more of these themes:

• Tackling the climate emergency
• Growing the local economy and delivering good jobs
• Supporting young people to reach their full potential
• Enabling adults to live longer, healthier and happier lives

The Hydrogen Village programme has seen Cadent carry out engagement with residents and businesses within the Whitby area of Ellesmere Port to understand how the gas being supplied to a 2,000-property area could be swapped to a different gas – low carbon hydrogen – in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from heating and cooking.

Heather Backstrom, Social Value Stakeholder Specialist, at Cadent, said: “We are pleased to partner with Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) to deliver the new Hydrogen Village Community Fund and put the local community at the heart of the Hydrogen Village programme.

“CWVA has a wealth of experience supporting local community groups and organisations in the Whitby and Ellesmere Port area. 

“Working with CWVA we’re aware that many local community groups are under growing pressure to deliver their services to meet the local community’s needs. The Hydrogen Village Community Fund will allow us to offer additional grants to local community groups to continue their excellent work for the area for years to come.”

Gary Cliffe, CEO, at Chester West Voluntary Action, said: “Cadent has put social value at the heart of its work and CWVA have been pleased to be involved in the Hydrogen Village, working with Cadent to ensure community sector organisations and the people they support have been included in the planning for this world-leading programme.

“We’re delighted to be partnering on the Hydrogen Village Community Fund scheme. This scheme will be funded by Cadent to enable local third sector organisations to provide more support for their beneficiaries, and ensure Cadent’s work has a long-lasting impact in the local area.”

Applications will be assessed and winners decided upon by a Cadent and CWVA panel.

For more information on the Hydrogen Village Community Fund, including how to submit an application, visit:

www.hydrogenvillage.com/communityfund.

The closing date for submissions is:

Friday 7 October 2022.

What is the Hydrogen Village:

Cadent announced in May that it wants up to 2,000 properties in the Whitby area of Ellesmere Port to be the UK's first 'hydrogen village'. If approved, these properties would stop using natural gas for heating and cooking, and instead use low-carbon hydrogen. 

More on this here

Pictured - Cadent engineer Kim Walters helps launch the £20,000 fund.