The Bristol Wood Recycling Project is a social enterprise and worker’s cooperative, that focuses on upcycling wasted wood from the local area and repurposing it for sale. They also create furniture in their workshop with a core team of employees and volunteers. Derek from BWRP approached us to apply for the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund so that a solar-powered kiln could be installed, reducing carbon and saving volunteers time that could be used for more creative activities.
A solar kiln is essentially a large greenhouse, where timber can stored, and rays of the sun can be harvested with the help of some solar panels air can be driven across the wood so that the moisture is taken out of it before it can be worked on. Funding this type of project can be very difficult for a not-for-profit and that’s where Bristol City Leap can help with our £1.5 million Community Energy Fund.
About the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund
The Community Energy Fund is a Bristol City Leap programme that supports and enables community-led green energy projects across Bristol. Along with our partners Ameresco and Vattenfall, we have a £1.5 million fund that is dedicated to the advancement of community energy initiatives, of which any profits we receive get reinvested into the fund to fuel future decarbonisation projects as part of our commitment to social value and delivering for local people.
To do all this the fund encourages applications from all communities in Bristol, with an emphasis on applications from community groups who have yet to deliver an energy project or those who have not yet applied for the fund. Established community energy groups are also able to apply. The fund can also help to build the capacity of staff and volunteers to deliver successful future projects. These projects place an emphasis on providing clear, quantifiable long-term benefits to local communities that will build the capacity within Bristol communities to further engage and pave the way for the next wave of energy projects.
Bristol Wood Recycling Project’s Experience
“The grants that were available from Bristol City Leap were completely transformational in our decision making process as it because it became a no-brainer for us”
“It’s a wonderful success story for us because it’s very rare for us that you get a project that gets a win across being good for the business, being good for the climate but also being good for the employees and volunteers who are here. We get a triple whammy of all of those.”
“We are freeing up literally days per week of individuals through being able to have the solar kiln drying the wood and then have our sanding machine operational in the workshop. That is where we are getting the really big payoff”.
“I went through the application process myself. I must admit I went into it a little daunted but actually my hand was held throughout the process and it was a very straightforward activity”
Apply to the fund today!
Derek’s story highlights the tremendous impact that the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund can have on community organisations. By supporting these initiatives, we can save money while making a positive contribution to a healthier planet. If you are part of a community organisation or know one that could benefit from this funding, don’t miss this opportunity! Apply now and join the energy revolution in Bristol.
For more information about the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund, please visit our dedicated webpage.
