11 June 2007 08:00 Central Networks urges community groups from across the Midlands to apply for cash to build safer environment

Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, has alerted community groups from across the Midlands that they could be missing out on its community cash fund.

The company, which is part of E.ON UK, offers a £70K Safer Environment Fund to support projects that make a lasting and positive affect on the local environment.

Grants of up to £2,500 are available to groups from across the region and Central Networks is now calling on local groups to come forward and apply for cash to build a safer environment.

Customer Operations Manager Phil Wilson said: “We’ve received over 40 applications so far and I’m delighted to say we have already given away more than £20,000 this year to a range of community groups across the Midlands.

“That said, I’m disappointed that we’ve only received a few applications from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. We’ve had some great ideas from these areas in the past and we really want to urge more groups to apply for funds that could make a real difference to the local community”



The fund is part of Central Networks’ commitment to work with the communities it serves. Winning applications have included a new path to improve access to a nature reserve, safety barriers for playgrounds and sports fields, and a new sensory garden to help children learn more about the environment.

“What’s important to us is that these ideas will make a real difference to the places where our customers live and work,” said Phil.

The fund is open to all local community groups and not for profit organisations with their own bank account located in the Central Networks distribution region, which covers central England. For more information and to download an application form visit www.central-networks.co.uk/sef.

Ends

• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:
Jamee Majid 02476 183679
A selection of E.ON UK images are available free of charge to the media by registering at www.newscast.co.uk and looking under the Distribution section