Highfield Food Co-op, a Keighley based group that promotes carbon monoxide awareness, has benefitted from a grant of more than £2,500 from the North of England’s gas distributor Northern Gas Networks (NGN).

The group will use the grant to support their Energy Matters project which, through workshops and training, aims to inform local communities about the help available to reduce energy use and save money, raise awareness of carbon monoxide and educate on smart metering.

The group are also aiming to train eight people in the local community to be able to educate Sudanese and Kurdish communities in and around Keighley and Bradford about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Vince De Bono, Community Outreach Volunteer at Highfield Food Co-op, said: “We are delighted with the grant we received from Northern Gas Networks as it allows us to continue to support people with information about fuel poverty and to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. We’d also like to thank NGN for their continued support and guidance.”

Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy at Northern Gas Networks, said: “Northern Gas Networks are really pleased to be able to offer Highfield Food Co-op a grant as part of our Community Promises Fund. As part of the application the judging panel were really impressed with the group’s focus on training up individuals to work with their own communities that we might struggle to communicate with.

“As well as the grant we’ll also be supporting the group, and the other organisations who have been awarded a grant, with any other support they might need; such as volunteering opportunities  advice or how they can share best practice with one another.

“Community groups, and other local organisations, play a fundamental role in helping to identify and assist those who are in need and I’m very much looking forward to working with them on their exciting projects and their efforts to help make a difference to local people’s lives.”

Highfield Food Co-op received the grand as part of NGN’s £50,000 Community Promises Fund.

The fund, which is now in its second year, offers grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to third sector organisations and community groups with innovative approaches to delivering sustainable initiatives associated with energy saving, fuel poverty, Carbon Monoxide awareness, raising the profile of the Priority Services Register (PSR) and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects across areas of the north of England.

After applying at the end of last year, the nine projects benefiting from the 2018 funding programme are: Age UK in Gateshead, Citizen Advice in Newcastle, Community Voice FM Ltd in Cleveland, Hartlepower C.I.C. in Hartlepool, Highfield Food Co-op in Keighley, National Energy Action, Stockton and District Advice, Information Service (SDAIS), The Canopy Housing Project in Leeds and Yorkshire Energy Doctor CIC.

The community projects include a whole host of innovative campaigns, from supporting vulnerable people with dementia access the Priority Service Register (PSR) to organising Carbon Monoxide (CO) awareness sessions and provide information on being more energy efficient.

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Community Voice FM (CVFM), a Middlesbrough based local radio station, has benefitted from a grant of almost £5,000 from the North of England’s gas distributor Northern Gas Networks (NGN).

The project will educate and inform the local community on a range of issues to do with energy efficiency, fuel poverty, using fuel more effectively, health messages including carbon monoxide awareness and promoting the Priority Services Register (PSR).

This will be done by using their volunteers from a range of backgrounds to record information messages for broadcast, hold on air discussions, create short dramas and broadcast them in different community languages.

Idrees Rashid, Director at CVFM Radio, said: “We’re delighted to have received a grant from Northern Gas Networks. Run by volunteers, we aim to deliver a range of subject in a variety of different languages, such as Urdu, Pashto, Arabic and Bengali, to ensure the local community are aware of a number of subjects that affect them day to day.

“We’ll be able to use this funding to produce a number of different broadcasts and messages that will inform local communities about energy efficiency, the Priority Service Register and the dangers of carbon monoxide in a variety of different languages.”

Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy at Northern Gas Networks, said: “Northern Gas Networks are really pleased to be able to offer Community Voice FM a grant as part of our Community Promises Fund. As part of the application the judging panel felt that this project would have a good reach in the community and provide a low-cost, effective way to raise awareness to many different communities whose first language might not be English.

“As well as the grant we’ll also be supporting the radio station, and the other organisations who have been awarded a grant, with any other support they might need; such as volunteering opportunities advice or how they can share best practice with one another.

“Community groups, and other local organisations, play a fundamental role in helping to identify and assist those who are in need and I’m very much looking forward to working with them on their exciting projects and their efforts to help make a difference to local people’s lives.”

Community Voice FM received the grand as part of NGN’s £50,000 Community Promises Fund.

The fund, which is now in its second year, offers grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to third sector organisations and community groups with innovative approaches to delivering sustainable initiatives associated with energy saving, fuel poverty, Carbon Monoxide awareness, raising the profile of the Priority Services Register (PSR) and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects across areas of the north of England.

After applying at the end of last year, the nine projects benefiting from the 2018 funding programme are: Age UK in Gateshead, Citizen Advice in Newcastle, Community Voice FM Ltd in Cleveland, Hartlepower C.I.C. in Hartlepool, Highfield Food Co-op in Keighley, National Energy Action, Stockton and District Advice, Information Service (SDAIS), The Canopy Housing Project in Leeds and Yorkshire Energy Doctor CIC.

The community projects include a whole host of innovative campaigns, from supporting vulnerable people with dementia access the Priority Service Register (PSR) to organising Carbon Monoxide (CO) awareness sessions and provide information on being more energy efficient.

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

HartlePower CIC, a Hartlepool based community project, has benefitted from a grant of almost £3,000 from the North of England’s gas distributor Northern Gas Networks (NGN).

The group will use the grant, from NGN’s Community Promises Fund, to promote carbon monoxide (CO) awareness locally, targeting families and residents who need assistance and support, such as elderly or disabled.

Through the group’s campaign ‘Carbon Monoxide – The Silent Killer’, the group are planning to run a six-month campaign with events planned across several community centres in Hartlepool giving local people key information about prevention and detection. The group will also be supporting the campaign with information in local press, radio and social media.

Three community centres already taking part include The Annexe in Dyke House, The Burbank Community Centre and The Orcel Centre. In addition, residents can also visit the HartlePower Hub in the Market Hall at Middleton Grange Shopping Centre to pick up a leaflet and more information.

Paul Hewitson, from HartlePower CIC, said: “We are thrilled to have been supported by Northern Gas Networks. This campaign will raise awareness about the dangers and warning signs of Carbon Monoxide poisoning, it’s crucial that residents know how to identify it and what to do to prevent it.

“I would also like to thank our community centre partners who play a vital role in supporting our residents through campaigns such as this.”

Tom Bell, Head of Social Strategy at Northern Gas Networks, said: “Northern Gas Networks are really pleased to be able to offer Hartlepower HIC a grant as part of our Community Promises Fund. As part of the application the judging panel felt that this project was very ambitious and had a good track record with engaging with the community.

“As well as the grant we’ll also be supporting HartlePower CIC, and the other organisations who have been awarded a grant, with any other support they might need; such as volunteering opportunities advice or how they can share best practice with one another.

“Community groups, and other local organisations, play a fundamental role in helping to identify and assist those who are in need and I’m very much looking forward to working with them on their exciting projects and their efforts to help make a difference to local people’s lives.”

HartlePower CIC received the grand as part of NGN’s £50,000 Community Promises Fund.

The fund, which is now in its second year, offers grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to third sector organisations and community groups with innovative approaches to delivering sustainable initiatives associated with energy saving, fuel poverty, Carbon Monoxide awareness, raising the profile of the Priority Services Register (PSR) and STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects across areas of the North of England.

After applying at the end of last year, the nine projects benefiting from the 2018 funding programme are: Age UK in Gateshead, Citizen Advice in Newcastle, Community Voice FM Ltd in Cleveland, Hartlepower C.I.C. in Hartlepool, Highfield Food Co-op in Keighley, National Energy Action, Stockton and District Advice, Information Service (SDAIS), The Canopy Housing Project in Leeds and Yorkshire Energy Doctor CIC.

The community projects include a whole host of innovative campaigns, from supporting vulnerable people with dementia access the Priority Service Register (PSR) to organising Carbon Monoxide (CO) awareness sessions and provide information on being more energy efficient.

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Northern Gas Networks (NGN), the North of England’s gas distributor, has won the country’s Most Considerate Site Award (project value under £500k) at the annual Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) National Site Awards.

The gas distributor scooped the award, at an awards ceremony in London, for its handling of the demolition of a gas holder on Minton Lane, North Shields believed to have been built in 1906.

The judges awarded NGN the award for the care and dedication it showed towards the local community acknowledging the gas holder’s unique historic significance.

Keen to preserve its past before demolition, NGN colleagues held regular meetings with local people and contacted relatives employed at the gas works during World War II. This led to a play being written which chronicled the history of the gas holder. A mural was also created by local school children, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

The CSS’s site visitor was full of praise for NGN’s approach noting ‘the site presents an impressive image of the industry and an outstanding example of how a construction site should appear’.

The awards bring together the very best of the UK construction industry and reward the extraordinary commitment that registered sites have made to improve its image.

Mark Johnson, Project Manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: “We’re honoured to have won the 2018 Most Considerate Site Award (project value under £500k) for the Minton Road gas holder demolition project in North Shields.

“Competition for these awards is tough and they are not easy to win. So this truly reflects the great work of NGN colleagues to not only make sure we are going above and beyond in terms of construction, but also putting the local community at the heart of our thinking.

“We pride ourselves on being a community focused organisation and it was also such an honour to create something to commemorate this historic gas holder which has been such a well-recognised part of the local skyline.”

Edward Hardy, Considerate Constructor Scheme Chief Executive, said: “Winning a Scheme National Site Award is a monumental achievement. To receive this top level of industry recognition reflects how much effort and commitment award-winning sites have made to push their standards, and those of the industry, to even higher levels.”

The CCS Awards have been positive for NGN as it was named a runner-up in the national awards for the demolition of another gas holder in Jarrow and the installation of a gas mains replacement project in Redcar, as well scooping more than 50 site awards (28 bronze, 14 silver and ten gold awards) for considerate constructor scheme projects across in the North East, Northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire.

All award-winning projects have undertaken their activity with the greatest care and consideration towards the public, the environment and their workforce. No matter the size or type of activity, all sites have showcased the very highest standards of considerate construction.

*CCS is a non-profit-making, independent organisation founded in 1997 by the construction industry to improve its image. Construction sites, companies and suppliers voluntarily register with the scheme and agree to abide by the Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage best practice beyond statutory requirements.

Anyone that smells gas or suspects carbon monoxide should call the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999. This line is in operation 24-hours a day, seven days a week.