£2,000 grant helps Draycott Community Shop install rooftop solar panels

Draycott Community Shop has successfully installed rooftop solar panels, supported by Solarsense and backed by a £2,000 grant from the Naturesave Trust.

The community shop has received support from the Naturesave Trust who provided the £2,000 grant, Solarsense who offered the panels at a 50 per cent reduction and Total Access Scaffolding who supplied free scaffolding hire.

This has enabled them to install the panels quickly and without the need to fundraise, which would have been near impossible during lockdown.

Tim Cook, chairman of Draycott Community Shop Committee, said: "The grant we obtained from the Naturesave Trust was invaluable to the project.

"When we first went about taking over the shop, as well as benefiting the community, it was incredibly important for it to be as eco-friendly as possible.

"The panels will generate about 25 per cent of our annual electricity needs, saving approximately one tonne of carbon dioxide each year. This is roughly the same as one broadleaf tree in its 100-year lifetime.

"It will save us around £500 per year from our energy bill, meaning we can use this money to benefit the community in other ways."

The Naturesave Trust is funded by the activities of Naturesave Insurance, an ethical insurance provider for individuals, businesses, charities and community groups.