Twelve groups around Bristol have been offered a total of £53,193 to undertake a range of energy projects in local communities. The grants will be awarded by Bristol City Council through its Bristol Community Energy Fund, an initiative encouraging local solutions for community specific energy challenges.

The successful projects were picked from 32 submissions by a judging panel made up of Bristol City Council representatives, community leaders, local energy partners such as Bristol Energy Network, Age UK Bristol, Bristol Disability Equality Forum, Black South West Network, Bristol Energy Co-operative, UWE and Quartet Community Foundation.

The newly formed panel met for the first time on Thursday 24 March where local projects were chosen on the basis of their potential to support local people to:

• Reduce energy use
• Move towards cleaner and renewable sources of energy
• Take measures that can help meet their energy needs affordably.

The grant programme is targeted at not for profit organisations based and working in the Bristol area. Non-energy related groups are encouraged to apply to broaden the reach of energy projects to new communities, resulting in applications from numerous equalities-led groups, community groups and even a primary school.

The judging panel prioritised submissions by equalities-led groups or organisations working in partnership with them, as well as proposals by groups representing communities most affected by energy issues such as fuel poverty, older or disabled people, BME and migrant communities. These are groups which have been underrepresented in the energy movement.

Find more information here.