Cleator Moor Celtic hope to combat spiralling energy costs by going solar-powered.
The football club faces energy bills of over £10,000 a year and earlier this year, young players worked with iSH and Co-Lab Engineering to come up with a solution to the problem.
At the end of the event, it was decided that solar panels could be the answer to the club’s prayers and now iSH and the club are identifying what funding is available to make the £40,000 scheme happen.
Peter Hodgson, of Cleator Moor Celtic, said: “The energy crisis is really affecting small clubs like ours. We have been around for more than 100 years and we’d love to be here for another 100 – at least.
“But with prices rocketing we need to become sustainable, self-sufficient and reduce our carbon footprint. We also want to be seen as actively protecting the environment.”
iSH has already put in a funding application for half of the amount and is hoping to get match funding from other relevant funds or businesses within the West Cumbrian community.
Peter added: “The continuation of the club is vital to the town. Not everyone will play football but there’s a social hub they can meet in. It’ll give them all a sense of pride and a sense of achievement that I hope spreads into the town.
“Without iSH this event wouldn’t have happened. They are very welcome and needed in our community and they could see the benefit of this project. Yes, we hope to see the project delivered with funding for the solar panels, and our thanks must go to the iSH team for pursuing as many avenues as possible to secure it for us, but the benefits are already being felt. For me, this is already a phenomenal success story.
“The work that they are doing is so popular and their interaction with community clubs is fantastic, there are a lot of people going to feel a lot of benefit. They have supported us and pushed us. They have given the kids an opportunity not afforded to them otherwise.
“They are a breath of fresh air and they can only be beneficial to the area. Without their vision and drive the opportunities won’t be there for the kids of Cleator Moor.
“Running the sessions was exactly what we hoped it would be. The students involved gave up their holiday time to come along and take part in engineering and now we want them to see their ideas come to fruition.
“Making the club sustainable is very important but more importantly was showing the girls and boys involved what it is like working in engineering. It was originally predominantly aimed at girls and we did pretty much have an even split. Of the girls who attended some are now actively pursuing how they get into a career in engineering which is just fantastic. That’s a real win too.
“But for all of them, they get to have the involvement in Greener than Green on their CVs. They took away massive personal benefits and they got to interact with experts too. The things we take for granted, like how we create energy, they got an insight into.”
