SUPPORTING community energy projects has earned Oldham Council a prestigious award.

The Local Authority beat four other councils to the prize at the Community Energy Awards.

The award recognised the council for supporting Oldham Community Power, which has installed a 220W energy generation scheme and now helps to power a number of schools and a community centre.

The scheme, which Oldham Council supported with a loan as well as officer time and advice, will save five schools and the community centre at least £5,000 on their energy bills in the first year of the project alone and much more in the future.

Cllr Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council, said: “This is really an award for the fantastic local residents who’ve participated in Oldham Community Power and helped it to get off the ground.

“It’s a terrific scheme which we were very happy to support and advise on.

“We were also delighted the judges acknowledged the other work we’re doing across Europe too.

“We’re very keen supporters of community energy so, if residents are interested in exploring the possibility of community energy projects in their area, I would urge them to get in touch.”

The council also helps residents ad business to reduce their energy bills through the Warm Homes Oldham scheme.

Run in partnership with Oldham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, the scheme has helped lift more than 4,000 households out of fuel poverty by assisting with the installation of new insulation and heating measures.

The council also support the Big Clean Switch, a Greater Manchester wide energy project designed to help people collectively switch to more environmentally friendly suppliers, and lead on a Europe-wide initiative entitled COALESCCE (Community owned and led energy for security climate change and employment); a five year project which will see public bodies from across Europe work together to share expertise to help community energy projects get off the ground.