The Northern Powergrid Foundation

Charity Number: 1203185

Annual Expenditure: £0.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1.3m+ (distributed since 2022)
  • Success Rate: Estimated 30-35%
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
  • Grant Range: Up to £20,000
  • Geographic Focus: North East England, Yorkshire, and Northern Lincolnshire

Contact Details

Website: https://www.northernpowergridfoundation.com/

Email: thenorthernpowergridfoundation@northernpowergrid.com or jessica.cook@northernpowergrid.com

Phone: 07889 108 663

Application Portal: Online application portal available on website (strongly recommended over postal/email applications)

Overview

The Northern Powergrid Foundation was established in 2022 as an independent charity (Charity Number 1203185) in direct response to Storm Arwen and the winter storms of 2021-22 that severely affected communities across Northern Powergrid's operating region. The Foundation received an initial £7.57 million donation from Northern Powergrid (Northeast) plc and Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc. Since its launch, the Foundation has supported 93 energy resilience projects with over £1.3 million in funding to over 90 unique projects. The Foundation is managed by a Board of Trustees comprising both internal Northern Powergrid representatives and independent external trustees, with Joe Docherty serving as the independent Chair. In early 2025, Jess Cook was appointed as the Foundation's first Head to drive the development and delivery of their business plan. The Foundation's mission is to make a lasting difference to people living in Northern Powergrid's operating areas by supporting projects relating to energy resilience, fuel poverty, sustainability, and the efficient use of energy and resources.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Community Energy Resilience Grants: Up to £20,000 per project
  • Applications accepted through online portal
  • Rolling basis with specific application windows (typically twice per year)
  • One-off payments for new community projects
  • Match funding accepted if project costs exceed £20,000

Priority Areas

The Foundation has three key funding pillars:

1. Community Resilience

  • Supporting projects that embed greater energy resilience within communities
  • Establishment or expansion of community hubs to keep communities safe and warm during power interruptions
  • Installation of solar panels, battery storage systems, and backup power solutions
  • Community halls, parish halls, village halls, community centres, and similar facilities

2. Fuel Poverty Innovation

  • Supporting innovative and scalable solutions for addressing fuel poverty
  • Educational advice and support programmes
  • Projects that help prevent and relieve fuel poverty

3. Net Zero Networks

  • Supporting programmes that build awareness, educate, and develop skills at a community level
  • Projects that support the net zero transition
  • Energy efficiency improvements to community buildings

What They Don't Fund

Explicitly excluded:

  • Individuals or organisations applying on behalf of individuals
  • Projects that have already started
  • Supplementary funding for inflationary increases (not new projects)
  • Funding that is the responsibility of another organisation or statutory authority
  • Projects outside North East England, Yorkshire, or Northern Lincolnshire
  • Organisations that have been operating for less than 12 months
  • Diesel or LPG generators or other unsustainable solutions
  • Food and provisions
  • Projects not aligned with the Foundation's three priority areas
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Joe Docherty, Chair of Trustees

  • Independent Chair with extensive Chair and Non-Executive Director experience
  • Currently Managing Director of Bede Homes
  • Chair of the Council of Durham University
  • Trustee of Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
  • Sets the strategy and delivers the priorities of the charity

Other Known Trustees:

  • Jodie Coe: Director of People and Change at Northern Powergrid, Foundation Trustee
  • Louise Lowes: Northern Powergrid's Head of Customer Services, Foundation Trustee

The Board comprises trustees elected from within Northern Powergrid alongside external and independent trustees, ensuring both operational knowledge and independent oversight.

Executive Team

Jess Cook, Head of Foundation (appointed January 2025)

  • First Head of Foundation role
  • Responsible for driving the development and delivery of the Foundation's business plan

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Strongly Recommended: Use the online application portal at northernpowergridfoundation.com

Alternative methods (not recommended): Applications can be submitted by post or email

Before Applying:

  • Review the FAQ section
  • Read the Grant-Making Policy document
  • Review the Grants Awarded page to see examples of communities already supported
  • Preview application questions available on the website

Application Requirements:

  • Must be a UK-based organisation operating for over 12 months
  • Must supply most recent annual financial accounts
  • Must provide organisation's governing document and registration number
  • Critical: Must include valid quotations covering the full grant value requested
  • Project must be located within North East England, Yorkshire, or Northern Lincolnshire
  • Must demonstrate alignment with Foundation's three funding priorities

Decision Timeline

  1. Submission: Automatic email acknowledgement upon online submission
  2. Assessment: Foundation team assesses application against key criteria (typically 6-8 weeks)
  3. Board Review: Trustees meet and perform grant-making decisions based on recommendations
  4. Notification: Applicants informed of progress throughout via email
  5. If Successful: Grant terms and conditions issued for acceptance, then grant cheque issued

Typical timeframe: 6-8 weeks from receipt of completed application

Success Rates

While specific overall success rates are not published, available data suggests:

  • Foundation has supported over 90 projects from an estimated pool of several hundred applications
  • For the related Northern Powergrid Seed Fund, 10 out of 31 applications were funded (approximately 32% success rate)
  • Estimated success rate: 30-35%

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants will not receive individualised feedback due to high application volumes
  • Applications accepted multiple times per year (typically twice annually)
  • Prospective applicants can express interest to be notified when the Foundation reopens for applications
  • No explicit waiting period mentioned for reapplication
  • Contact the Foundation directly for specific reapplication guidance

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements

Valid Quotations: “Quotes must be in date and cover the grant value that is requested. Failure to provide quotations will result in the application failing the application assessment.”

  • Ensure quotations will remain valid throughout the 6-8 week processing time
  • Consider match funding if quotes may expire

Geographic Eligibility: Projects must be firmly located within the North East of England, Yorkshire, or Northern Lincolnshire

Project Viability: “Permission must be requested and all due diligence has been performed to ensure the project is viable in the location required before applying.”

Foundation Guidance

The Foundation advises applicants to “look at renewable options to be resilient during the event of a storm; such as solar panels and battery storage systems rather than diesel or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) generators.”

Important: “The Northern Powergrid Foundation and Northern Powergrid cannot provide applicants with support in devising their project concept. Applicants are asked to perform their own research and work with suppliers to develop a strong application.”

Examples of Funded Projects

  • Craster Memorial Hall: Solar panels and storage battery to become a warm hub during power interruptions
  • DERIC Youth and Community Project, Bearpark, Durham: £9,000 for electricity generation
  • Dipton Community Association, Durham: £20,000 for solar panels and battery storage
  • Eastgate Village Hall: £19,000 to improve energy efficiency of the building fabric
  • Hexham Community Centre: £20,000 for solar panels and battery storage

Key Terminology

Projects should focus on:

  • Energy resilience
  • Community hubs
  • Warm spaces during power interruptions
  • Renewable energy solutions
  • Battery storage
  • Solar panels
  • Fuel poverty relief
  • Net zero transition
  • Energy efficiency

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Renewable Focus: The Foundation strongly favours renewable energy solutions (solar panels, battery storage) over fossil fuel alternatives. Projects should emphasize sustainability and long-term resilience.
  1. Quote Quality is Critical: Valid, in-date quotations covering the full grant amount are essential. Applications without proper quotes will be rejected at assessment stage. Plan for quotes that last 6-8 weeks minimum.
  1. Geographic Specificity: Only projects in North East England, Yorkshire, or Northern Lincolnshire are eligible. Clearly demonstrate your location within these regions.
  1. Community Benefit During Power Outages: Successful projects demonstrate how they will keep communities safe and warm during power interruptions. Focus on the community hub role your facility will play.
  1. Strong Project Planning Required: The Foundation will not help develop your project concept. Applications must arrive fully formed with supplier relationships established and due diligence completed.
  1. Apply Early: With an estimated 30-35% success rate and high demand, apply as early as possible when funding rounds open. Some funding rounds may operate on a first-come-first-served basis.
  1. Align with All Three Pillars: Strongest applications will demonstrate alignment with community resilience, fuel poverty innovation, and net zero networks where possible, not just one priority area.

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References