SSEN encourages central southern England communities to apply to £1m funding pot ahead of closing date

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) is urging communities across central southern England to apply for grant-funding of up to £20,000 from its Resilient Communities Fund, ahead of its closing date on Wednesday 1 June.

This year, SSEN has made £1 million available to non-profit making organisations, community groups and charities working to protect and enhance the resilience of those most vulnerable in central southern England. The deadline date for applications is Wednesday 1 June 2022 and the distribution operator is keen to make sure as many eligible groups as possible apply.

Applications are invited from communities for grants available from £1,000 up to £20,000 and in exceptional cases - involving multi-year and multi-community applications - funding up to a maximum of £50,000 will be considered.

Now in its eighth year, SSEN’s Resilient Communities Fund has been boosted to £1 million in recognition of the difficulties some communities across central southern England experienced in the face of the recent adverse weather and aims to assist in helping them build and strengthen their resilience.

Applicants are asked to consider the criteria for funding, which seeks to support projects falling under these two categories:

• Resilience for Emergency Events - To enhance community facilities, services and communication specifically to support the local response in the event of a significant emergency such as extended power loss.
  
  
• Vulnerability - To protect the welfare of vulnerable community members particularly during significant emergency events such as extended power loss, through enhancing their resilience and improving community participation and effectiveness.

The SSEN Resilient Communities Fund Panel, made up of organisations with expertise in community resilience planning will review applications and determine which projects should receive funding, with the successful applications announced in the autumn.

Morven Smith, Head of Community Investment for SSEN, said:

"SSEN has increased this year’s funding pot to its highest ever level in a bid to help communities across central southern England to enhance the strength and resilience of their residents in times of adverse weather and emergency situations.

“As we have seen, year on year since the Resilient Communities Fund launched, communities are using the funding available to them to work collectively, protecting vulnerable members of the community and building on the resources needed locally to provide all residents with robust support in difficult times.

“This year’s higher level of funding will give more communities the chance to confidently respond to situations created by adverse weather events and emergencies. I want to encourage all eligible groups, organisations and charities to look at how the fund could benefit their local area and get their applications in to us ahead of the 1 June deadline.”

To find out more about the Resilient Communities Fund, read SSEN’s annual fund reports and apply for funding, please visit https://www.ssen.co.uk/RCF/.