A County Durham trust that has supported thousands of families with food, energy bills and more has been awarded a grant of over £1m by the National Lottery.
The East Durham Trust, in Peterlee, has been awarded a significant £1.12 million from the Climate Action Fund through The National Lottery Community Fund.
The funds are set to be used to deliver the project 'Energising East Durham' an initiative designed to tackle the energy crisis across the 22 towns and villages along the coast.
The trust says that community energy is "vital because it puts power into the hands of local residents, reducing dependency on large energy companies, cutting costs, and reinvesting profits back into the community."
Graham Easterlow, CEO of East Durham Trust said: “This is a game-changer for our communities.
“Many people in our area face extreme energy poverty, and it’s vital that they are not left behind in the green transition.
“This project will not only reduce energy costs but ensure our communities are part of the solution to the climate crisis.
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“Thanks to this significant funding, East Durham will set an example for how deprived post-industrial areas can lead in tackling global challenges.”
This comes as the charity says intervention in this area is "critical" as the area faces large numbers of fuel poverty.
In parts of East Durham, up to 29% of households are considered fuel-poor, compared to the national average of 13.1%.
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