Welcome to the Northern Powergrid Foundation!

We believe in the power of community. That’s why we provide the funding and support needed to help people adapt to environmental, economic, and societal changes in the energy sector.

Since 2022 we've supported over 90 communities with more than £1.3 million to create warm, safe, and resilient spaces for communities which not only strengthen them, but promotes greener energy! 

 

Learn More about the Foundation

Take a look at some of our work

Our aim is to improve access to energy resilience, net zero networks, and fuel poverty innovation to communities in the Northern Powergrid area.

Here are stories from our first year: Dipton Jubilee Centre, Stocksfield Community Centre, and Upper Don Community Energy were among the 93 communities we’ve supported.

Find out more

Our Impact

 

 

Imagine a community where every resident has access to sustainable energy during emergencies like storm-induced power cuts. This vision is becoming a reality thanks to the Northern Powergrid Foundation's Community Resilience Projects!

We can help you

Twice a year, we offer grant funding of up to £20k to community resilience projects.

Projects include setting up community hubs with solar panels, heat pumps, and generators to ensure safety during power outages, helping them to become self-sufficient and reduce energy waste.

Our successful 2024 applicants are currently delivering their community energy resilience projects with our support.

We are OPEN for new Community Resilience applications! 

Grant window open 17th March 2025 until 11th May 2025

 

Apply Now!

Key Resources

We are committed to supporting impactful projects, so we encourage applicants to spend time developing their application.  Below is a list of resources to help you achieve success. 

To understand the projects we support, read our Grant-Making Policy.

For support with your application please read our application toolkit. 

Visit our Grants Awarded page to see how communities are becoming energy resilient with our help. 

Check our frequently asked questions for any queries you may have. For early grant application development, view the application questions. 

Our communities are benefitting

Suzanne Longley, Northcliffe Environmental Enterprises Team said “At N.E.E.T we are extremely grateful to Northern Powergrid Foundation for the opportunity to develop our site with a renewable energy source, incorporating our sustainability goals. The support from Northern Powergrid Foundation through the application process and afterwards has been excellent and their commitment to understanding and engaging with communities facing real energy challenges is genuine and makes a difference.”

Karen Froggatt, CEO of The Glendale Gateway Trust said: "Working together with Wooler Parish Council our plans to further our role as an emergency response hub for local residents and vital services have come to fruition with the Foundation funded generator to go alongside our solar panels and battery storage. The existing kit didn’t have enough capacity to support the whole centre, but the generator can now support this. The centre tries to accommodate the community‘s needs, but we can't do this alone, we are fortunate to have received funding to support our resilience project."  

Read more stories

Other community support available

Northern Powergrid, the electricity distributor for the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, supports the community in which it serves with services offered to those that need extra advice or support in a power cut, can advise on how to prepare for power interruptions, especially during the winter months and through partners provide energy advice support.

 

Power Cut Support