£60k for new eco centres

Members of the Bancroft Community Association, in Tamworth, and the Sutton Trust Community Group, in Abbey Hulton, Stoke-on-Trent, have received more than £30,000 each to transform their community centres into energy-saving eco-havens.

The Eco Homes project, funded by William Sutton’s Community Investment Fund, aims to help residents cut their carbon footprint and promote green living.  

As part of the project, experts from environmental charity Groundwork UK will work with residents to help them choose the best energy saving equipment –such as solar panels, boilers, water pumps, new recycling systems and renewable energy.

Pat Whittaker, acting chair of the Sutton Trust Community Group, said:  “We are really exited about the eco projects and are really keen to start using our new knowledge to promote environmental sustainability and do our bit to fight global warming."

Residents have also attended a special carbon footprint training course at Trafford Hall National Communities Resource Centre to help transform them into eco-warriors.

Kate Warlow Hughes, chair of the Bancroft Community Association, said:  “We are really keen to introduce lots of new eco friendly initiatives to our community centre, such as solar panels and even a wormery.

“We also now know about lots of other pots of funding that we can apply for to complement the money that William Sutton Homes have contributed.”

Julia Coulton, regional housing director for William Sutton Homes, said she hoped the Eco Homes would spark a green revolution in both communities.

She said:  “We are delighted to support this project and hope that the community centres will offer somewhere for the local community to find out more about being green.”

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