Watt a relief for miners’ institute

A Northumberland community venue is reducing its carbon footprint and energy bills thanks to a local funding boost.

Lynemouth Miners Welfare Institute, which had seen its monthly gas and electric bills more than triple after the end of its most recent energy contract, has received a £1600 grant from Durham-based family business Banks Group to support a suite of green upgrades, including insulation, draught excluders and solar panels. 

The improvements are expected to cut the building’s energy use by up to 84 per cent.

The institute, which hosts local bar sports teams and private functions, as well as providing a base for local charity Bacmans Community, is celebrating its centenary this year.

David Johnson, director at the institute, said: “We knew our energy bills were likely to rise when we came out of our last contract, but the amount they went up was staggering and put real pressure on the institute’s finances.

“We knew we had to act quickly to try to reduce our costs and came up with a number of different measures that will help to reduce and control our energy use, which will in turn bring down our bills and create a better place for our guests to visit.

“Adding the insultation and draught excluders is a simple but very effective way of gaining more control over our environment, but with all the other costs we need to cover, we simply couldn’t have afforded to do it without Banks’ generous contribution.

“We’re confident that all the improvements we’re making will bring down our energy bills substantially, and we’re particularly looking forward to opening up the building as a warm hub, so that any of the village’s older residents who’re feeling isolated know they have somewhere welcoming to go for a cuppa and a chat with their friends.”

Jamilah Hassan, community relations manager at the Banks Group, whose community funds are independently managed by Point North, added: “The Institute trustees have taken the initiative in bringing down their energy bills and making their building an even more welcoming place for local people to spend their time.”

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