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E.ON opens its Energising Communities Fund

CHARITIES and community groups in Merseyside are invited to apply for up to ₤2,000 of funding through the E.ON Energising Communities Fund, available for the 2nd time this year. To be eligible for funding organisations must submit a request which supports activities that help bring about a reduction in their own energy use, help generate energy from a renewable source, or provide energy efficiency advice for local people. Applicants are encouraged to get their funding requests in now, ahead of the application deadline of Monday, 29 January 2018. Groups can apply for funding of up to ₤2,000 which may cover the full or partial cost of energy related improvements and activities.

Suzanne Doxey, Community Relations Manager at E.ON, said:- "We're really excited to be offering our E.ON Energising Communities Fund for the second time this year to give more local community groups and charities the opportunity to apply for funding.  At E.ON we understand that heating bills can account for a large part of the running costs for a community group or charity and so their need to become energy efficient and save on costs is really important. With our Energising Community Fund we're able to support community groups and charities who would like to become more sustainable but don't necessarily have the available funds to be able to progress with their plans. Since launching our fund in 2013, we've distributed over ₤140,000 to almost 85 community groups nationwide to fund energy-related projects and it's been great to hear the benefits that the funding has had, not only on the groups and charities themselves, but the wider community who use the facilities. We look forward to receiving the applications and supporting more successful community groups with the fund."

One recent beneficiary of the fund was a group of school children in Southport who attended one of 11 energy efficiency workshops at the Southport Eco Centre which was funded by a ₤1,925 grant. The pupils have since shared the energy saving advice and money saving tips they learnt with their families and the wider community, as well as presenting a special assembly at which the rest of the school heard about simple steps to reduce energy use in the home.

For full Terms and Conditions for the E.ON Energising Communities Fund and to access the application form, please visit:- EOnEnergy.Com/Community.

The E.ON Energising Communities Fund is one of the ways E.ON is supporting homeowners and the wider community to become more energy efficient and to save money on their heating bills. To find out more about how E.ON could support, visit:- EOnEnergy.Com.

Wards moving at Southport Hospital

SOUTHPORT and Formby District General Hospital began the move of 3 Wards within the Town Lane building.  The moves bring acute, medical and surgical care wards into one place. Each ward will keep its telephone numbers from their original locations.  The 3 Wards moving will be:-

► The Stroke Ward 10b is moving to Ward 15b.
► Surgical Ward 15b moves to Ward 11a.
► Surgical Ward 11a moves to Ward 10b and becomes the Surgical Assessment Unit.

The moves are part of the Trust's ₤250,000 "Safe at all Times" project which aims to make the best use possible of buildings and staff. The work, at Southport, also includes creation of a clinical communications hub which will support bed management and give oversight of activity across the Hospital to underpin safe care.

Therese Patten, Chief Operating Officer, said:- "Having patients in the right place at the right time is a key factor in giving them the best possible experience while in our care. I want to thank all the staff who have worked so hard to make these changes happen as well as patients and their families for their patience this week."