Keld Public Hall and Reading Room sought support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation in the form of a £1957.34 grant to purchase a generator and emergency equipment. This initiative aims to support residents and visitors of Keld, North Yorkshire, during emergencies such as power cuts and floods.  

Keld is a picturesque village located in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. During the off-season, local volunteers run a self-service café in the village’s Public Hall, which is also open all year round for various social events, sports activities such as badminton and Zumba, children's fairs, and has even served as a recording studio for a local musician. 

The challenges for Keld, Richmond, North Yorkshire 

Keld is a small, remote village with even more isolated outlying properties. The lack of mobile communications during emergency events can leave some residents completely cut off. In the past the area has faced 5 day power outages whilst being impacted by storms and snow.  

The solution for Keld, Richmond, North Yorkshire  

The trustees of Keld Public Hall decided to create an Emergency Community Hub to act as a central, accessible, safe, and warm place, providing access to power and equipment for preparing hot food and beverages, social support, and communications. By purchasing a generator, the Hub's central location will ensure residents and visitors have access to basic amenities during local civil emergencies. The Hub will also be available for use by emergency services such as Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Mountain Rescue organizations in coordination with the local authority. In times of crisis, the Hub can help reduce fuel poverty and enhance social inclusion by providing a central resource for isolated villagers and visitors to obtain food, warmth, shelter, and companionship. 

Martin Hughes, a volunteer at Keld Public Hall and Reading Room, is developing a maintenance and check program for the generator equipment and a protocol for initiating the Emergency Community Hub. Martin stated, "This project is crucial for our community. It ensures that in times of need, we have a reliable place where people can find warmth, food, and support. We are incredibly grateful to the Northern Powergrid Foundation for their generous donation, which makes this possible." 

Pictured: A yellow portable generator with a red fire extinguisher

Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation 

The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported the community project with a £1957.34 donation to purchase a generator. 

Dianne France, Secretary of Executive Committee, commented, "It has provided a sense of available help and support, especially for those living alone and in the very outlying properties of this remote area. This initiative will significantly improve the quality of life for residents by ensuring they have access to essential services and a safe place to gather during emergencies." 

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 due to the shifting energy landscape. This is achieved by supporting projects focused on tackling energy resilience during emergency events, vulnerability, fuel poverty, levelling the rural divide, innovation, social support, and community collaboration. Funds are available to support communities across the North East, Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire served by Northern Powergrid. 

Interested parties should visit our 'who and what we fund' page to understand what support may be given to other community projects.