Helping Whittlesey

The project is to install solar panels on the roof of the Whittlesey Community Hub building in order to reduce energy costs, lower our environmental footprint, and promote sustainability within our community. This will significantly reduce our dependence on fossil energy sources and lower our utility bills. The bills are typically £400 per month over the summer, and up to £700 in the winter. These bills will increase further as a wider range of groups begin to use the venue. The installation includes 40 JA Solar panels, 23.2 kWh Solax battery, Solax X3 Hybrid G4 Inverter and maintenance costs for 6 years.

The application for funding has been submitted by Helping Whittlesey (registered charity 1205448) on behalf of the Hub partners which are: Helping Whittlesey, Whittlesey Athletic Football Club (WAFC) and Phoenix Youth Provision CIC. All the partners are not-for-profit and deliver community-based programmes in Whittlesey and the surrounding villages, covering sport, environment and youth services. They formed the Whittlesey Community Hub in July 2024, based at a building leased by Whittlesey Athletic Football Club on Bassenhally Playing Fields. Helping Whittlesey is an environmentally based charity which receives and re-distributes surplus food (from retailers, producers and farms) to the local community of Whittlesey and the surrounding villages via a community pantry. Future plans include collecting, storing, repairing and re-distributing household items eg via a Repair Cafe model.WAFC is an active and inclusive grassroots football club. Phoenix Youth Provision runs youth clubs and services for young people, especially those with SEND, or who are school refusers/excluded or with other support needs. As well as the youth club they run workshops eg cookery, have guest speakers eg managing finances, and act as a gateway to signpost to other services.

It is estimated the Hub supports and provides services to more than 1500 local people. Whittlesey is expanding with new housing being built adjacent to the Playing Fields, so the need for community space will grow and the Hub wishes to become environmentally and financially sustainable to facilitate this growth in demand. The Hub is a shared space where members of the community can come together to collaborate, learn, innovate, and support one another. The purpose is to foster a sense of community, promote creativity and innovation, and provide resources for individuals and organisations. The partners have plans to develop their community support in future, as well as expanding the range of other community groups which may wish to use the building.