Lockington may be a small, rural village, but its community spirit is powerful. With no shops, pub or other public spaces, the village hall has long been the heart of local life: a place for social clubs, community events and the simple joy of coming together.

But in recent years, bad weather and frequent power cuts have highlighted just how essential this space really is.

Last winter, most of the village lost power for almost 30 hours. In the middle of freezing temperatures and growing uncertainty, Lockington Village Hall became a lifeline. Thanks to a fortunate connection on the network, the hall still had electricity for much of the outage. Villagers came to get warm, enjoy hot food and drinks, charge their devices, and stay connected with updates about the power cut. It became a safe, welcoming refuge when people needed it most.

Recognising the vital role the hall plays in emergencies, the Lockington Village Hall Committee set out to strengthen the village’s resilience for the future.

Northern Powergrid Foundation awarded £20,000 to support the installation of solar panels and a battery storage system at the hall, an investment that will transform the building into a reliable energy hub for years to come.

Heather Crosby, Treasurer of Lockington Village Hall, said:

“The Foundation’s support will make a lasting difference to our community. We’ve seen first-hand how important the hall is during power cuts, and this funding gives us the confidence that we can continue to provide a safe, warm place for people to come together, no matter what happens. It’s not just about energy, it’s about protecting our village and keeping our community connected.”

The vision is simple but powerful:

a village hall powered by clean, affordable and resilient energy, ready to support residents during power cuts and reduce reliance on the grid.

Lockington’s rural location leaves it particularly vulnerable to bad‑weather outages. With no other community buildings, no shop, no pub, no café, the village hall is the only shared space the community can turn to.

The new solar and battery system will mean:

• The hall can stay open and powered even during outages
• Vulnerable residents will have a safe, warm place to go
• Families can charge devices, stay informed, and remain connected
• The community can continue to hold gatherings and events without worrying about rising energy costs
• Money usually spent on electricity can now be reinvested into upgrades and improvements, helping keep the hall fit for the 21st century

And with no gas supply in the village, energy bills are one of the hall’s biggest ongoing costs. Generating their own power will make a real financial difference, giving the committee the freedom to focus on community development rather than utility bills.

With the Foundation’s support, Lockington Village Hall is becoming more than a venue, it’s becoming a beacon of resilience. A place where neighbours can gather in good times and bad. A space powered by clean energy, strengthened for future emergencies, and ready to serve the village for generations to come.

This project embodies exactly what the Northern Powergrid Foundation stands for:

supporting communities to prepare, adapt and thrive- no matter what challenges come their way.