Community Resilience Shines Bright at Kibblesworth Village Millennium Centre with New Solar Installation 

Photo caption: Jess Cook on behalf of the Northern Powergrid Foundation, and Kibblesworth Village Millennium centre visitors stood infront of stain glass window being presented with a Giant cheque 

Kibblesworth Village Millennium Centre has been awarded £20,000 to install solar panels, batteries, and an inverter. This initiative aims to improve the centre’s energy efficiency and provide essential support during power cuts. 

Norma Bolton, Chair of Trustees, who, as a child, attended the old school which occupied the same building, expressed her gratitude: “We are thrilled to have received the grant from the Northern Powergrid Foundation. ‘’  

”The installation of solar panels and battery storage has not only enhanced our energy efficiency but also ensured that we can continue to support our community during power cuts. This support is invaluable to us, and secures the future of the space.” 

Jess Cook, Head of the Northern Powergrid Foundation, shared her excitement about the project during her first site visit in her new role: “It's great to see how our support is making a real difference in the community.  

“The Kibblesworth Village Millennium Centre shows how renewable energy can boost community strength and sustainability, and we hope our grant allows the centre to continue delivering their fantastic services to their local community.''

 "The centre provides a warm space for members of the community with a weekly coffee morning featuring homemade goodies, ’Warm Space Wednesdays' where they provide a hot meal for local residents, wood crafting, pilates, and other community activities. It’s also home to some small businesses ran by local people, such as a hairdresser, accountant, and beautician.  

Challenges for Kibblesworth, Gateshead Residents 

Being situated in a semi-rural location, many residents rely on the Millennium Centre as the only place they can go to reduce social isolation and as a warm haven for those struggling with rising energy costs in their homes. 

The Solution for Kibblesworth, Gateshead Residents 

The trustees believed the installation of solar panels will significantly reduce the centre’s carbon footprint and energy costs. Additionally, the batteries and inverter will ensure that the centre remains operational during power outages, offering a reliable and resilient community hub for local residents. The generated power can be used when the centre needs it most, whether during a power cut or simply as a warm place to be.  

Emma Hodgson, Centre manager said ‘’ We have advertised the community centre as a warm space, so that residents are welcome to come and use our facilities, have some warm food and drinks at  no cost, to help reduce their energy costs.’’  

‘’ We are also reassured that we can provide a point of refuge in the case of residents losing power in their homes.’’  

Centre users have all agreed that it is a wonderful opportunity for the community and that it is reassuring to know that their community centre will be in a position to run for years to come. This project would not have been possible without the funding from the Northern Powergrid Foundation. 

The centre has plans to further improve the building’s energy efficiency to ensure they can continue to support their community for many generations to come, including looking into insulation and window upgrades. 

Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation 

The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported the community project with a £20,000 donation towards the installation of solar panels, batteries, and an inverter.  

More About the Northern Powergrid Foundation 

The Northern Powergrid Foundation is committed to supporting community resilience and sustainability projects across our regions. This grant is part of their ongoing efforts to empower local communities and promote renewable energy solutions.