EN:Able Communities celebrates first 10 years

EN:Able Communities is celebrating 10 years of achievement with major plans for 2026. 

The charity was established with a mission to support local communities in the North of England and to develop a future workforce capable of delivering energy-efficient housing. 

Created as Efficiency North‘s charity arm, it receives regeneration funds created through its member-based procurement arm, EN:Procure.

In the last decade, not-for-profit EN:Able Communities has: 

• Granted £1.4m in funding to small charities supporting local communities  

• Backed 127 community projects  

• Supported almost 1,800 people into work  

• Secured £1.8m in funding 

Now it is launching exciting plans for a new £250,000 Community Foundation Fund (CFF) in 2026 that will be open for applications for small grants from projects or charities operating in communities served by Efficiency North’s membership of social housing providers. 

Chief Executive Lee Parkinson said the 10-year anniversary was a chance to reflect on EN:Able Communities’ success – and to mark the celebrations by launching the new community fund. 

“Our aim from the start was to ensure that the efficiencies achieved for our social housing landlord members would provide real cash benefits to make a positive difference for their tenants and wider communities. We have achieved this and far more,” said Lee.

“Now it is fitting to mark this landmark achievement with the launch of our new fund, with the aim of continuing to make a real difference to people’s lives.” 

EN:Able Communities’ trustees have confirmed the CFF will be opened in 2026 with the initial £250,000 contribution from EN:Procure, which will continue to add funds each year. 

Applications will be welcome from organisations that demonstrate a social return on investment (SROI) that has a tangible positive impact for people living in those communities – and that also aligns with EN’s corporate values.

All companies on EN:Procure’s frameworks receive social value points or funds that can be donated to EN:Able Communities, among many options, to deliver a range of social, economic and environmental benefits.

The charity has several key strengths, including offering specialised energy advice to residents, tackling damp and mould and providing training and upskilling opportunities to the social housing sector.

EN:Able Communities has been a lifeline to countless local groups across the region, including Edlington Community Organisation (ECO), which was supported with EN funding before its charity arm was set up. 

ECO, based in a former mining town in Doncaster and backed by 70 volunteers, runs a seven-day programme of activities from the community centre, an independent food bank, community pantry and market.

The organisation’s manager, Samantha Siddall, explained: “It’s a highly deprived area, and everything was stacked against us. The aim was to bring positive activity here, generate opportunities and improve people’s quality of life. 

“We’ve been engaging with Efficiency North for seven years and it’s been an absolute lifeline. We applied for funding and received £1,500 in our first grant from them.  

“The money helped with our IT support service – we set up a drop-in service where people could have a coffee, get online and learn how to use technology. Later, we secured additional funding to launch our food bank. Without that support, the food projects we run today simply wouldn’t exist. 

“They gave us the small grant to get started, and it’s grown into a legacy project. That kind of seed funding has been critical for us.” 

Lee added: “Those who have partnered with us have contributed to meaningful social change by helping to ensure vulnerable communities lead better lives as we continue to address fuel poverty and support people facing financial hardship. 

“We’ve accomplished a great deal and now look forward to strengthening our commitment to supporting our communities and offering work and training opportunities to our future workforce. We’re embarking on another exciting chapter.” 

To find out more about EN:Able Communities, visit: https://www.efficiencynorth.org/en-able-communities/.