E ON UK : Glossop ‘Men’s Shed’ feels the heat thanks to grant from E.ON

• E.ON Energising Communities Fund now open for new applicants to apply for funding of up to £2,000 each

Be Well, a community enterprise based in Glossop, Derbyshire has been able to winter-proof its community allotment shed thanks to a £2,000 grant from E.ON's Energising Communities Fund.

The community group has used the funding to insulate the shed - known as the 'Men's Shed' - and to purchase a multi fuel stove to enable it to sustainably heat the shed during the colder months. The group also plans to spend some of the money on a wind turbine to be able to generate its own energy on-site to light the shed and power small hand tools.

The Glossop shed will offer groups of local men and people with mental health conditions or at risk of isolation and loneliness a place where they can feel at home and pursue practical interests away from their daily lives.

Mike Owen, Project Coordinator at Be Well, said: 'Within the Glossop area there is a mixture of communities, from the affluent to those experiencing significant disadvantage. Locally we've seen that older men are more socially isolated than older women and that services such as lunch clubs and coffee mornings are designed with women in mind, rather than the purposeful activity that men may prefer.

'The Men's Shed concept is very much about replacing the sense of purpose lost by so many men when they finish work. It aims to provide a social space for groups of men to come along and be together to share the tools and resources they need to work on projects of their own choosing, at their own pace and in a safe, friendly and inclusive environment.

'The shed was erected earlier this year by a group of volunteers and since then we've welcomed over 50 local groups and people along to enjoy being in the space. The funding from E.ON will help us to ensure this community facility is a warmer, more comfortable space and we hope that more people will come and enjoy using our community shed.'

Suzanne Doxey, Community Relations Manager at E.ON, said: 'We're really pleased to have awarded funding to Be Well to enable them to prepare their Men's Shed for winter and to provide a warmer, more comfortable space for visitors.

'This project is great because it's such a simple concept that means so much to the people who use it. It's brilliant to see groups looking at different ways they can involve the local community and provide a safe environment for vulnerable groups to be part of.'

The E.ON Energising Communities Fund was launched in 2013 and since then E.ON has given away almost £140,000 to 84 community groups and charities in England, Scotland and Wales through the fund.

E.ON Energising Communities Fund now open for new applicants to apply

The next round of E.ON's Energising Communities Fund is open for applications and charities and community groups are invited to apply for up to £2,000. To be eligible for funding organisations must submit a request which supports activities that help bring about a reduction in their own energy use, help generate energy from a renewable source, or provide energy efficiency advice for local people.

Applicants are encouraged to get their funding requests in now, ahead of the application deadline of Monday 29 January 2018. Groups can apply for funding of up to £2,000 which may cover the full or partial cost of energy-related improvements and activities.

For full Terms and Conditions for the E.ON Energising Communities Fund and to access the application form, please visit eonenergy.com/community

The E.ON Energising Communities Fund is one of the ways E.ON is supporting homeowners, residents and the wider community to become more energy efficient and to save money on their heating bills. To find out more about how E.ON could support, visit eonenergy.com

To help people better understand their energy use and where savings can be made, E.ON is installing smart meters for customers across Britain. Customers can visit eonenergy.com/smart for more information about E.ON's self-reading smart meters and to see if they are able to get one installed. If eligible today, they can also book an appointment online.

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For more information contact:

Naomi Troy, 02476 180523, [e-mail]

Jane Branscombe, 02476 183681, [e-mail]