With our Sustainable Community Buildings programme now open for applications to support groups in Belfast City Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council areas, we’ve been looking at those who’ve already taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills.

CWA Brass Band in Carrickfergus received National Lottery funding in 2023 for solar panels and batteries for their hall on Thomas Street and are seeing the benefits.

Chris McGookin, Chairman of CWA Brass Band explained: “As a community group of volunteers we felt the impact of rising energy bills and were struggling to keep the doors open and the band going. Our electricity costs suddenly skyrocketed.

“The idea arose from members, as we all tried to find a way to address the growing concerns.

“We chatted with various other groups and took part in visits to see best practice and consider options. Solar panels seemed like a good idea, as they let us be proactive in responding to future challenges from increased costs of living and climate change, very real issues for our local community.

“They have only been running for less than a year, but we already made savings. The batteries mean power can be stored and used in the evening when the sun is down but the band is practising. The application and installation process was straightforward and we really appreciate the funding that came at a time when we really needed it.”

The National Lottery Community Fund’s Sustainable Community Buildings programme is open to applications for groups in some Council areas until October.

This programme offers grants of up to £50,000 to help organisations carry out improvements to their venues by installing technology like solar panels, insulation and heat pumps, saving money on energy bills.

Organisations that apply will also take part in vital free carbon literacy training which will help them to look at ways to reduce their carbon footprint and get expert support to write an environmental plan to consider steps to improve sustainability and cut costs.

Chris continued: “I would say to other community groups, take a look at this dedicated National Lottery funding programme and give it a go. It sounds good as there is help and support along the way. Each building is different, and we got help to find out what was best for us.”

In Carrickfergus there’s strong demand for affordable community space and due to the saving through the solar panels, CWA Brass Band have now been able to open their hall for other groups to use, something they couldn’t do before due to running costs.

Commenting on what the building and group mean to the area, Christopher continued: “CWA are a multi-cultural group which is thriving, we have a number of members from the Chinese and Ukraine community and our group has provided them with a space for education, to gain friends and feel at home.

“This space is very important to them as they integrate into the community and the National Lottery investment has allowed us to expand our capacity and build for future projects and make relationships across communities.

“For us, it has just been the first step, and we’re now looking at other ways to make our building more efficient and save more money. We held an information night on climate change and have been linking with schools around this topic, something not happening much in our area. As a community it’s everyone’s responsibility to think about the future. Thanks to the National Lottery for helping us on our way.”

Sustainable Community Buildings is open for applications for groups with community buildings in Belfast City Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council areas to Wednesday 19 February 2025.

For more information visit: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/sustainable-community-buildings