'Tremendous' work going on at Hartlepool hub for voluntary and small enterprises

Mike Hill paid a visit to The Energy Hub in Stranton which supports the towns’ voluntary and social enterprise sector as well as fledgling small businesses.

Mr Hill met some of the enterprises and it coincided with centre managers Hartlepower CIC (Community Interest Company) celebrating the presentation of £48,900 from the National Lottery’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund.

One of the projects the funding will help to get off the ground is Hartlepower’s Broadband Access Programme (BAP).

By working with voluntary sector partners, the local authority and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation they will identify disadvantaged people and provide them with a free router and a low cost broadband connection.

The project has also been awarded £10,000 from the County Durham Community Foundation and 200 homes in Hartlepool and Redcar will benefit initially.

Peter Gowland of Hartlepower said: “We have in the course of our work recently come across many families and individuals without access to the internet, indeed without a computer or tablet.

"The term ‘digitally excluded’ is now being used to refer to such people and we have thanks to the two funders a solution to the problem which once proven could be rolled-out across the country.”

There are 21 tenants in The Energy Hub including a milliner, potter, shipping company, mindfulness coach, cafe and Chinese masseur.

In another new project, they will soon have access to an electric van for their transport needs in the form of a Nissan e-NV200 which has a range of over 170 miles when fully charged.

“As the world, thankfully, moves increasingly towards zero emission vehicles we thought it only appropriate we do the same, albeit in our own small way,” added Peter.

Mr Hill said: “Peter and everyone at Hartlepower are doing tremendous work, not only in helping and supporting the community, but also fostering new business and enterprises in Hartlepool.

"I was amazed by the myriad things on offer at the hub and the inspirational work that goes on there.”

For more information about the broadband access project see www.hartlepower.co.uk

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