£24k boost for Lancaster firm helping residents keep warm this winter

The social enterprise offers free, impartial advice on reducing energy use and keeping warm through a programme of home visits, pop-up shops, training sessions and a freephone information line.

It has helped close to 1,000 Lancashire households and SMEs to save money and reduce their carbon footprint to date.

The funding has been awarded by Centrica through its Energy for Tomorrow (EfT) social impact fund, which makes support available to groups and social enterprises to help boost local green projects.

The grant will help Green Rose expand and develop its new Lancaster Sustainability Hub and allow the organisation to provide even more helpful face-to-face advice about energy efficiency and low carbon transport to local residents.

This includes recruiting more volunteers to run workshops and events throughout the year.

Launched in 2007 to support the UK’s transition to net zero, the Centrica EfT fund encourages the development of initiatives within local communities that deliver affordable, accessible and sustainable energy solutions for everyone. Along with the financial support, Centrica will also provide technical advice on implementing the sustainable technologies and work with Green Rose to help it to provide energy efficiency advice to the local community.

Georgina Sommerville, director at Green Rose, said: “Funding from Centrica will help us ensure the future of this new community resource. The funding has allowed us to open the Lancaster Sustainability Hub five days a week so we can make the information, education and support we offer even more accessible to local residents."

Sarah Wright, programme manager at Energy for Tomorrow, said: “With growing awareness of sustainability issues, and rising energy prices, households and businesses everywhere are looking to cut their energy consumption.

"By providing face-to-face consultations and a host of other resources, Green Rose offers invaluable advice to help people achieve their sustainability goals in the local area.

“It’s more important than ever that we continue to support communities across the North West and the rest of the UK, at the same time as creating sustainable solutions that will help us achieve net zero.”

For more information visit https://www.centrica.com/sustainability/energy-for-tomorrow