Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) has been approved for a grant of £36,425 from Ørsted’s East Coast Community Fund to deliver hands-on green skills and retrofit project at Mablethorpe Community Hall in Lincolnshire.
The project will see the hall undergo vital energy-efficiency upgrades, including draught-proofing, radiator replacement, and insulation improvements. At the same time, VIY will transform under-used outdoor space into a new community garden to support health, wellbeing, and local food access initiatives.
The project is uniquely delivered by 40 local young people aged 16–24 who are currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Working alongside qualified tradespeople, the trainees will help carry out the refurbishment works, gaining City & Guilds accreditations in construction and sustainability. The aim is to boost their skills, confidence, and pathways into further training or employment.
Ed Sellwood, Director at VIY, said:
“We’re thrilled to receive this funding from the East Coast Community Fund. This project brings together everything VIY is about - improving vital community spaces while giving young people a meaningful opportunity to build new skills. We’re especially proud to be embedding energy-efficiency and sustainability into our training at a time when green skills are so urgently needed.”
Imran Nawaz, Ørsted’s Senior Advisor & Community Benefit Fund Manager, added:
“This project is a fantastic example of the kind of high impact, locally led initiative the East Coast Community Fund is proud to support. It will not only make a valuable community facility more sustainable but also empower young people with real-world experience and qualifications in the green economy.”
The works are expected to benefit more than 500 local residents who use the community hall and its services regularly. The new garden will be accessible during daylight hours and will support healthy eating and food-growing programmes linked to the local food larder.
The East Coast Community Fund forms part of Ørsted’s commitment to the communities closest to its offshore wind farms. Since 2016, the Fund has supported a wide range of charitable, environmental and community-led projects in coastal areas of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and north Norfolk.
The next application deadline is 30 July 2025, and groups can apply for grants between £1,000 to £50,000. Community groups interested in applying are encouraged to visit the fund website or contact GrantScape for support with their application.
For more information or to apply, visit: grantscape.org.uk/fund/eastcoastcommunityfund/