Calling all the North's Green Champions

Green groups across the North are being offered the chance to win funding for environmental projects by the region’s gas pipeline company Northern Gas Networks.

The company’s Northern Green Networks scheme is now in its third year and is once again inviting entries from community groups, schools and charities who are carrying out grass roots environmental projects in their local area.

In the past two years, funding has been awarded to 40 groups from across the region carrying out a range of environmental projects ranging from bat monitoring in Berwick upon Tweed through to community allotment projects in Bradford.

This year, £60,000 is up for grabs to groups with grants up to £5,000. The easy to complete application form is available online at www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/green.

Northern Gas Networks Communications Director John O’Grady explained: “We’re keen to support a diverse range of projects – from the small scale ideas such as creating community gardens through to larger scale schemes like restoring woodland areas or creating environmental education areas.

“We’ve made the application process very easy – all the groups need to do is fill in a short form telling us about their idea and how it will make a difference to their community.”

Entries are welcomed from groups across the North of England including north Cumbria and from the Scottish Border to the Humber in the East and Halifax in the West.

John O’Grady added: “Along with safety, protecting the environment is our prime objective and we are sure that we can help local organisations with small and large projects which won’t just protect that environment, but restore and improve it for the benefit of local people,” he said.

`“We hope that by doing that we can forge closer links with our communities, and build a better understanding of our role in delivering gas to homes and businesses across the North.”

Applications close on August 31st and the winners will be announced in the Autumn.