Energy company National Grid has given a £5,000 boost to Kirkgate Studios and Workshops in Shipley following electricity work in the town.

On Tuesday (December 7th) National Grid project manager Peter Thorpe, Councillor Kevin Warnes and local resident Ms Lucy Goldsmith met with Joy Hart, the studio manager, to see where the money would be spent.

Peter said: “National Grid’s recent work to repair electricity cables in Birklands Road caused a bit of disruption and we wanted to put something back into the community to say thank you for people’s patience and support.

“Councillor Warnes asked local residents to nominate local good causes which would benefit from a donation.  Once the nominations were gathered in, the residents were asked to vote for their favourite and selected Kirkgate Studios and Workshops the winner.

“The charity provides community art and education facilities and offers positive opportunities for vulnerable and disaffected people, and National Grid is keen to support initiatives that benefit the widest possible audience.”

Councillor Warnes said: “I was happy to help. The residents led the way and identified this project as the one they wanted. I fully support their choice and applaud National Grid’s willingness to invest in the community in this way.”

Joy Hart, Manager of Kirkgate Studios and Workshops, said.  “I was delighted when I heard we were to receive the donation and I’d like to thank National Grid for their support and Lucy Goldsmith for nominating our project. 

“The donation is going to be spent on repairs to a classroom which badly needs insulation, secondary glazing and decoration.  We hope to have the work done just after Christmas and we can then open the classroom up early in the New Year.

“Once the refurbishment is complete we propose to name the classroom the Birklands Room by way of saying thank you to the residents of Birklands Road for supporting our project.”

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For further media information only, please contact Carol Lloyd, National Grid Media Relations, on 01926 655372

National Grid

National Grid is an international electricity and gas company and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We play a vital role in delivering gas and electricity to millions of people across Great Britain and northeastern US in an efficient, reliable and safe manner. We believe the power of action can play a major role in safeguarding our global environment for future generations and tackling the effects of climate change, providing all our customers with the highest standards of service through network investment and through our talented, diverse workforce.

National Grid owns the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and operates the system across Great Britain. It also owns and operates the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain and its distribution business delivers gas to 11 million homes and businesses.

National Grid manages the National Gas Emergency Service freephone line 0800 111 999*.  
*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.

www.nationalgrid.com

Kirkgate Studios and Workshops

Kirkgate Studios and Workshops is a charity and a company limited by guarantee established in 1982. Kirkgate promotes the development of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Bradford District

For the last 28 years it has been providing high quality arts and crafts activities, courses and events as a method of engaging and developing marginalized people across Bradford District. 

Kirkgate provides a free drop in service for residents who can access facilities such as pottery, sewing, wood working, IT general crafts and social activities. It provides a warm welcoming environment for people who wouldn’t normally access community or educational facilities where they are given the opportunity to get help and advice from experienced staff, tutors and peers.

Kirkgate does preventative work with young people and people experiencing mental distress, and first-steps work with the long-term unemployed. It works on projects that engage with communities and build on and increase, existing skills, as well as introducing new ones

Kirkgate values arts and crafts activities as a way of bringing different communities together, to increase understanding, providing not only a creative outlet but building on commonality understanding social and team working skills