Visitors to The Riverside Centre in Newport should notice a change in temperature thanks to the award of £2,000 from E.ON’s Energy Action Fund to Community Action Isle of Wight, the charity which manages the facility.
The grant covered half the cost of 2 overhead heaters and new radiators, which have now been fitted.
The Riverside houses several charities and is used by Community Action Isle of Wight to provide a centre for volunteers from across the Island and to deliver a range of community projects. Several thousand people visit each week to access a range of activities and services, with many visitors having a physical illness, disability or poor mental health.
Philippa Daley, Development Officer at Community Action Isle of Wight, said:
“Our community centre is heavily used by people with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Automatic doors are vital for easy access, but their constant use meant our open plan seating area, where people meet or wait to access services within the building, was becoming very cold through the winter.
“Even now, with the variable weather we’ve seen in recent weeks, the improvements are making a difference. We’ve been able to get rid of our inefficient portable electric heaters in the reception and visitor seating areas which we were having to use to supplement the central heating system. We expect to use less energy and save money over the longer term thanks to our upgraded heating.”
Suzanne Doxey, Community Relations Manager at E.ON, said:
“When Community Action Isle of Wight initially approached the E.ON Energy Fund it had recently installed a new, energy efficient gas boiler, but its need for automatic doors, and their constant use, was still making it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Article continues below this advertisement “The charity had identified that not only was this situation making conditions for the Riverside’s users less than ideal, it was also wasting energy and money. We’re always looking to offer people smarter, sustainable solutions and our £2,000 donation has helped to cover the cost of changes that should now boost the centre’s energy efficiency and make the centre cosier for visitors.”
