Medomsley Community Action Group receives £6,418.40 to develop a community crisis hub to serve the residents of Medomsley, Durham.
Medomsley Community Action Group received £6,418.40 from Northern Powergrid Foundation in support of setting up Medomsley Methodist Church Hall as a community crisis hub at times of civil emergency situation for residents to come together, stay warm and have activities to prevent social isolation.
The group is leading the creation and implementation of a Community Emergency Resilience Plan for the village of Medomsley and surrounding area. Medomsely Methodist Church Hall has been established as the warm community location to provide local residents with a space to socialise, have mental stimulation and mutual support in the event of widespread power, cuts or disasters.
Andrew Rigg, Medomsley Community Action Group Treasurer said “After the events of Storm Arwen and knowing that climate change will only mean more unpredictable weather, Medomsley Community Action Group could not have put together our warm hub without the support of the Northern Powergrid Foundation in providing the funds for us to complete this activity. This hub will provide a place for the community to shelter, seek advice and come together in times of uncertainty”.
In the photo L-R: MP Richard Holden, Andrew Rigg, Medomsley Community Action Group Treasurer, Sonya Wilks, Medomsley Community Action Group Member, Councillor Alan Shield and Anne Haswell, Northern Powergrid Project Manager, outside of St Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Medomsley.
The challenges for Medomsley, Durham, residents
Due to the possibility of power interruptions at Medomsley the parish council identified a need to increase their resilience.
The solution for Medomsley, Durham, residents
The parish council identified a need to set up a community hub at Medomsley Methodist Church Hall to provide a warm and social location for local residents during times of power interruptions, all possible with generator and resilience kits.
Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation
The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported the community project with a £6,418.40 donation to go towards generator hook up points and generators, as well as long-term reusable supplies to enable services to run effectively from the hall, supplies include charging stations, portable power stations, wind up torches and radios.
More about the Northern Powergrid Foundation
The Northern Powergrid Foundation’s mission, complementing Northern Powergrid’s ambition to be a force for good in the communities it serves, is to support communities most affected by changes in the economy, environment, and society because of the shifting energy landscape. This will be achieved by supporting projects focused on helping to tackle energy resilience during emergency events, vulnerability, fuel poverty, levelling the rural divide, innovation, social support, and community collaboration. Funds are available to support the communities across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire served by Northern Powergrid.