Heating the heart of the village: Tingewick Village Hall warms up through Bee Green grant fund

Thanks to support from the Bee Green Grant Fund, Tingewick Village Hall is ready for a warmer, greener winter with a new air source heat pump.

The upgrade marks a major step forward in improving the hall’s energy efficiency and sustainability, reducing its carbon footprint while providing a more comfortable space in a village that lost its village pub in 2023.

The upgrade was made possible through a grant of £7,700 provided by Gawcott Fields Community Solar.

Grant applicant Martin Hornsey said the project will make a real difference to local life: “The hall is very well used and we have lots of different groups using it, as well as a community café which helps fund the hall.”

Following the closure of the village’s only pub, the need for a well heated public space became even more urgent in Tingewick but for those missing their local, there is some good news. “With the village pub now closed, we also run a community pub night here in the hall, so it’s great being able to host all these events in a warm, welcoming space”, Martin added.

“We’re going into winter with a much better system, it heats the room evenly, and the installation went very smoothly.”

The Bee Green Grant Fund, provided by Gawcott Fields Community Solar, helps local organisations and community groups invest in low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels, and insulation improvements.

A spokesperson for Gawcott Fields Community Solar said: “It’s great to see applications like this come to life and we hope the village hall is an even more welcoming place throughout the winter.

“We really do encourage people or organisations within 5km of the Gawcott site to consider applying for this grant.”

If you know of a community cause in the area, please consider applying for the Bee Green grant.