A 100-year-old building got a new lease of life thanks to grant funding to bring it into the 21st century.   

Grindon Parish Hall, located in the picturesque village of Thorpe Thewles, Stockton, has been serving the community for over 100 years. 

They provide a meeting place and hub for those in the village and the surrounding area.   

But due to rising costs they began looking at ways to make the hall resilient and more energy efficient.  

That's when they were alerted to the grant funding available for resilience projects in the North East, Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire via Northern Powergrid Foundation.   

Northern Powergrid Foundation is the charitable arm of Northern Powergrid, and passionate about being able to support innovative organisations and community projects addressing energy-related challenges including fuel poverty, energy resilience and the net zero transition. 

Chris Chapman, Chair of Trustees at Grindon Parish Hall, has welcomed the arrival of the brand-new technology in the hopes it reduces their energy bills and thus pass on benefits to the community.   

"Our plans for increased usage of the hall is in full swing, so we need solar panels and battery storage to help offset the energy used and reduce costs.  

"It's great to have renewable technology in an old building, it brings the building into a modern era, and enables further activities and events to be held at the hall.  

"The Hall tries accommodate the community’s needs, but we can't do this alone, we are lucky to have received funding to support this resilience project."  

Chris recently became the Grindon Parish Hall Chair of the Trustees in the summer of 2023, joining shortly after moving into the village and wanting to be a part of the village after early retirement from an executive role.  

Grindon Parish Hall received £4,000 to part fund solar panels and battery storage which will help safeguard the future of the hall for the residents of Thorpe Thewles, Stockon-on-Tees.  

 
The panels and the battery will provide the hall with energy resilience allowing it to serve the local residents in times of power interruptions, and enable the hall to be used for additional activities and events. The savings in energy costs will enable trustees to pass on benefits to users and will help the establishment of a regular youth club and safe/warm space at the hall.  

Trustees from Northern Powergrid Foundation are celebrating their ability to support those who really need it, and making sure that others are prepared this winter.  

Jodie Coe, Northern Powergrid Foundation Trustee, said "It’s wonderful to hear about Grindon Parish Hall’s transformation! The installation of solar panels and battery storage is a fantastic step towards energy resilience and sustainability. It’s inspiring to see how grant funding from the Northern Powergrid Foundation is making a real difference in communities by supporting projects that address energy-related challenges. 

“Chris and the team at Grindon Parish Hall are doing an incredible job ensuring the hall remains a vital hub for the village and surrounding area. The new technology will not only help reduce energy bills but also provide a reliable power source during interruptions and a safe space, which is crucial for community activities and emergencies. 

"People like Chris who take on responsibility on a volunteer basis are the lifeline of a community and an inspiration to us all, we all could be doing more for our own community.” 

Applications for the next round of grant funding are now open until 14 October 2024.   

Visit northernpowergridfoundation.com for more information, which includes Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), eligibility criteria, grant making policy and instructions to start your application.