Barra takes the Lion’s share of £256,000 for Western Isles Communities

9 April, 2010 - 12:11 — admin

Barra takes the Lion’s share of £256,000 for Western Isles Communities

Barra and Vatersay Community Ltd has successfully bid for £139,000 funding from the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF). The award to the Household Energy Efficiency Taskforce (HEET) programme, will be used to provide a service providing energy audits, advice and some energy monitoring equipment for all householders on the Islands. The funding will also enable The Company to continue to pursue its other green projects, the Community Wind Turbine, Vatersay Village District Heating and The Recycling Project. This award complements a recent award of £9,800 to Voluntary Action from The Postcode Lottery which also targets home insulation.
 
Mairi Campbell, chair of the community company said “This is fantastic news. Energy costs just keep rising, so anything we can do to help folk reduce their energy use will return a long term benefit and make life on the islands that bit less difficult”. Gerard MacDonald, Local Development Officer added “Many of the Company’s activities focus on areas which reduce carbon emissions, it is our belief that in providing carbon savings we must also demonstrate there is a real and immediate benefit to the community. What better demonstration can there be than in enabling people to reduce their spend on energy?”
 
Climate Challenge Fund has already enabled Gàradh a’ Bhagh a’ Tuath to expand Northbay garden with an award of £60,000. This new additional funding will be aimed at developing the home insulation service; buying equipment to establish community composting; and enable the Company to have a dedicated member of staff working on energy and recycling projects. The HEET project will enable the community company, working with Tighean Innse Gall and Voluntary Action Barra and Vatersay, to employ and train a member of staff, who will be able to undertake detailed energy audits and provide guidance and assistance to enable householders to access funding or low cost insulation. The service will be available to all permanent residents on Barra and Vatersay.