THE Chester-based National Communities Resource Centre (NCRC) has received a grant of £50,000 to launch as series of environmentally focussed residential youth programmes at Trafford Hall.

International energy services company Centrica provided the funding through its Energy for Tomorrow (EfT) social impact fund, which makes support available to groups and social enterprises to help boost local green projects.

The NCRC launched the new initiative following consultation with several local housing associations, which found that greater involvement from younger tenants was needed in order to shape effective environmental action plans.

The programmes aim to bring young people and housing association representatives together to learn more about the environmental actions required in communities. Those attending will also develop a range of skills, learn about opportunities in the sector, and make connections with potential employers.

Launched in 2007 to support the UK’s transition to net zero, the Centrica EfT fund encourages the development of initiatives within local communities that deliver affordable, accessible and sustainable energy solutions for everyone. Centrica colleagues will also give their time to support the sessions and provide mentoring support to the young residents in the community as they implement their environmental action plans.

Claire Robinson, charity co-ordinator at NCRC, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to receive such generous support from the Energy for Tomorrow team. From the outset, our aims seemed to align brilliantly. We hope this brand new programme will lay sustainable foundations for helping many young people and their communities on their journey to net zero."

Sarah Wright, programme manager at Energy for Tomorrow, said: "Housing associations have clear net zero targets to meet, and collaborating with residents to help meet those goals is a critical part of the challenge. It’s great that the EfT fund is able, via the good work of the NCRC, to support associations in their efforts to be more sustainable.

"It’s more important than ever that we continue to support communities across the North West and the rest of the UK, at the same time as creating sustainable solutions that will help us achieve net zero."

The EfT fund derives revenue from the feed-in tariffs of solar panels installed by Centrica on more than 250 schools across the UK. The solar panels save each school almost £2,500 yearly, offsetting just over 13,000 tonnes of CO2.

Further information about the Centrica EfT fund is available at: www.centrica.com/sustainability/energy-for-tomorrow.