Helperby Village Hall Committee receives £20,000 of funds to support residents of Helperby, North Yorkshire, with solar panels and battery storage.

Arial view of a building with solar panels on roof Helperby is a village in North Yorkshire, England, located near York. Helperby Village Hall received £20,000 from The Northern Powergrid Foundation to install 20 solar panels and a 33.6 kWh battery storage system, enhancing the hall's energy resilience and sustainability.

The village hall, which is overseen by 7 Trustees and supported by 16 volunteers known as the ‘Halls Angels’’, offers vital services for their residents and those of surrounding areas including children’s clubs, sports and wellness activities, community festivals, ceremonies such as parties, weddings and wakes and acts as the local emergency hub.
Picture of white box batteries

The challenges for Helperby, North Yorkshire, residents Due to increasing energy costs and the need for reliable energy sources, the trustees of Helperby Village Hall identified a need to enhance their energy resilience and sustainability.

The solution for Helperby, North Yorkshire, residents The trustees of Helperby Village Hall identified that installing additional solar panels and battery storage was the optimal solution to ensure the hall remains operational and continues to offer low-cost activities for the community during energy shortages. They collaborated closely with their installer to determine the best approach, including integrating the new system with their existing solar panels, assessing battery storage requirements, and deciding on optimal placement. The installer also developed and gave his time to create a supply panel for use during emergencies and power outages to ensure the hall can support residents during emergencies.

Alex Robertson, Trustee, stated, "This funding is a game-changer for Helperby Village Hall. The new solar panels and battery storage system will not only reduce our energy costs but also ensure that we can continue to offer essential services to our community, even during energy shortages. We are incredibly grateful to The Northern Powergrid Foundation for their support."

 

Pete Mitchell, Chair of Trustees, added, "The support from The Northern Powergrid Foundation is invaluable. This upgrade will significantly improve our ability to serve the community, providing a reliable and sustainable energy source that will help us maintain our operations and support local residents during challenging times."

Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported the community project with a £20,000 donation to fund the purchase and installation of 20 solar panels and a 33.6 kWh battery storage system, enhancing the hall's energy resilience and sustainability.

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 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.