Wetwang Village Hall, East Riding of Yorkshire, received £19,254.20 for solar panels and battery storage from the Northern Powergrid Foundation.
Wetwang Village Hall is a modern, purpose-built facility at the heart of the local communities to the west of the market town of Driffield. Run by a dedicated team of volunteers, the hall is a vital resource for this rural area, providing facilities for local schools, sports clubs, community events, birthday pa
rties, and even weddings.
The village hall proudly hosts the Annual Scarecrow Festival, a cherished community event that infuses Wetwang with creativity and joy. Spanning several days, the festival showcases a diverse array of scarecrow displays crafted by both local residents and visitors from nearby areas. Events like these not only bring the community together but also generate essential income to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of the village hall. Even Paul Hudson, BBC Weather presenter and BBC’s Climate Correspondent, who is honoured in the East Riding as Mayor of Wetwang, actively participates in the festivities.
The challenges for Wetwang residents Located in a rural area with public transport running only two days a week, the village hall is the sole refuge for the local community during poor weather or power outages. It serves as the main hub for the community and surrounding villages.
The solution for Wetwang residents The installation of solar panels and battery storage has increased resilience and improved energy efficiency at the village hall. Since the installation, electricity bills have significantly reduced. Additionally, the income from energy exported to the national grid helps offset oil heating bills. These savings and income enable the hall to maintain operations and offer more activities for the community.
Nigel Taylor, Chair of Trustees, says, "The battery system can deliver 10KWh when fully charged, making the hall largely self-sufficient for electricity and enabling us to export power to the national grid. This has significantly reduced our electricity bills and provided additional income to offset our heating 
costs. We are incredibly grateful to the Northern Powergrid Foundation for their generous support. Their contribution has been instrumental in enhancing our energy resilience and sustainability, allowing us to continue serving our community effectively. With this support, we can now allocate more funds to maintaining the hall and expanding our range of activities, benefiting everyone who uses this vital community resource."
Support from the Northern Powergrid Foundation The Northern Powergrid Foundation supported this community project with a £19,254.20 donation, funding the purchase and installation of 26 solar panels and a battery storage system. This enhancement has significantly boosted the hall's energy resilience and sustainability.
More about the Northern Powergrid Foundation The Northern Powergrid Foundation’s mission, complementing Northern Powergrid’s ambition to be a force for good in the communities it serves, is to support communities most affected by changes in the economy, environment, and society due to the shifting energy landscape. This will be achieved by supporting projects focused on helping to tackle energy resilience during emergency events, vulnerability, fuel poverty, levelling the rural divide, innovation, social support, and community collaboration. Funds are available to support the communities across the North East, Yorkshire, and northern Lincolnshire served by Northern Powergrid.