The Welsh Government has announced the launch of a new grant scheme to support energy efficiency and decarbonisation across social care.
It is hoped that, alongside the furthering of net zero ambitions, this will also help residential social care providers to cope with the rising costs of energy through this cost of living crisis.
As part of the Welsh Government’s Backing Local Firms Fund, the scheme is worth £1.4 million of funding and aims to support businesses that are key parts of local economies, delivering more of the products and services required by the public sector. This funding will go some of the way to supporting the delivery of new energy efficiency and low carbon measures and bringing Wales’ public sector closer to achieving their goal of becoming net zero by 2030.
Residential care providers registered with Care Inspectorate Wales are able to apply for grants of between £30,000 to £50,000, which will be able to fund investments in things such as heat pumps, cavity wall insulation., double glazing/replacement windows, ground source heat pumps, loft insulation, tanks and pipe insulation.
Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services, said:
“We all have a part to play in tackling the climate change crisis and we must act now if we are to reduce emissions and hut our target of having net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Good progress has already been made within the health and social care sector and we want to ensure social care in Wales is energy efficient.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for social care providers to reduce their impact of the energy crisis, improve their Energy Performance Certificate and make the social care sector more sustainable. I encourage all residential care providers to submit an application.”
Minister for the Economy, Vaughan Gething, said:
“Social care is a vital part of our everyday economy, providing vital services and jobs in communities right across Wales.
“So I’m very pleased we’ve been able to make this funding available, which will support social care providers across the country to cut their energy costs.”
