THE Hartlepool Sea Cadets have been shortlisted for an energy fund which could earn them up to £12,500 to install solar panels on-site.

The youth charity, which works in partnership with the Royal Navy, is battling it out against other organisations across the region to win votes for the M&S Community Energy fund this year.

At the end of the competition, on October 16, the cause with the most votes will win the funding to install renewable energy in their premises.

The Sea Cadets are a uniformed organisation on Hartlepool Marina which have been running since 1938.

There are currently 39 cadets aged between 10 to 18 who benefit from a range of activities, including all kinds of boating on the water to various land-based activities including camping, first aid, and music.

Leon Usher, Chairman, said: “Being a charity and relying mainly on donations to continue to operate leaves us with a really big challenge every year - to raise enough money to keep the charity up and running.

“With this in mind we are hoping to reduce our outgoings (and also our carbon footprint) by installing solar panels to the unit building.

“Thousands of young people have passed through our doors over the years, the vast majority of these being from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We will invest all of our savings from the scheme right back into the young people we work with in the form of equipment, and funding fantastic opportunities for those who would otherwise not be able to afford them.”

To vote for the sea cadets visit www.mandsenergyfund.com/projects/hartlepool-sea-cadets