Lottery grants to help vulnerable cope with rising food and fuel prices

Middlesbrough Environment City Trust (MEC), Sunderland Black and Minority Ethnic Network (SBMEN) and the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA), in Newcastle, have received the money from the Big Lottery Fund’s Communities Living Sustainably initiative.

The funding will be used to help households cope with food and fuel price rises, prepare for extreme weather and change their behaviour to lead healthier lifestyles.

James Turner, head of the Big Lottery Fund in the North-East, said: “These three projects will help to make green and sustainable living second nature for communities across the North-East, which will go a long way towards helping vulnerable people reduce their food and fuel costs and make their areas happier and healthier places to live.”

MEC has received just under £999,000. Community champions will be trained to work in areas of high fuel poverty and show residents how they can make their homes more energy efficient.

The project will also promote the environmental and health benefits of cycling, increase awareness of cycle routes, and encourage school and community groups to take safe cycling and cycle maintenance training.

Initiatives will be set up to increase recycling rates, hold U-Sell days and run an eBay pilot so people can sell unwanted items.

Mark Fishpool, of MEC, said: “This funding will provide a great opportunity for more people in Middlesbrough to live sustainable lifestyles.”

SBMEN was awarded nearly £1m to work in some of the most deprived areas of Sunderland to tackle fuel poverty, bring communities together, enable people to gain new skills, raise awareness of climate change and train community volunteers to help residents make their homes more energy efficient.

WEA will use its £978,147 funding to open a sustainability centre in Newcastle where local people can learn about growing their own food, and reducing their energy and water use.