Eldon Community Partnership Powering a More Resilient Future
Eldon Community Partnership has been awarded £20,000 to install new solar panels and battery storage, helping to transform Eldon Community Centre into a resilient, sustainable, and welcoming hub for local people.
At the heart of their vision is a simple but powerful idea: a community centre that can support residents every day, and stand strong when the community needs it most. During Storm Arwen, the centre became a vital place of shelter and support. This experience cemented the Partnership’s commitment to strengthening the village’s resilience and ensuring local people always have somewhere safe and warm to turn to.
Today, the community centre is bustling with activity. It offers subsidised hot meals, social events such as bingo, and hosts key local meetings, including those of the Parish Council. The team has also begun running holiday activities for schoolchildren in partnership with Durham County Council, providing both fun and healthy food for families who need it most.
But with more activity comes rising energy use, and rising costs. In a village still living with the legacy of its mining past, where deprivation, low incomes and poor-quality housing remain a daily reality, keeping the community centre affordable and sustainable is essential.
The installation of solar panels and battery storage will help achieve exactly that. By generating their own clean energy and storing power for when it’s most needed, Eldon Community Partnership will be able to:
- Reduce electricity costs and reinvest savings back into community activities
- Keep the centre running during emergencies and power cuts
- Expand the range of events and services they can offer
- Build long-term energy resilience for a community that has faced decades of challenges
“The centre, built in 2009 thanks to generous fundraising and local donations, truly reflects the spirit of our community. Even the bricks came from the factory just down the road. We take great pride in what we’ve created here, and we’re committed to growing the centre into a place that supports people of all ages. This donation has been a tremendous help in moving that vision forward.''
- John Gibson, Trustee of Eldon Community Partnership.
This project is just the start of their ambition. Alongside the solar and battery system, the Partnership plans to explore additional energy‑generation opportunities and community support, continuing to build a future where Eldon has the strong, connected, and sustainable community hub it deserves.
“It’s inspiring to see communities like Eldon coming together to create a space where everyone feels safe, supported, and welcome. Projects like this make such a difference for people who may not otherwise have a warm, reliable place to go. We’re proud to help strengthen that sense of resilience and belonging.” Honor Morton, Northern Powergrid Foundation Administrator
Through this grant, the Northern Powergrid Foundation is proud to support Eldon Community Partnership’s work in revitalising their village, strengthening community cohesion, and ensuring that local people have a warm, resilient, and empowering place to come together, both in times of crisis and every day.