Our aims and objectives, impact on the ground and how we operate as a federation of charities.
The main themes of our work and some of our most important initiatives.
What we can do for the wide range of people and organisations that we work with.
Find out the latest about how we're changing places and lives.
Further your career or help us make a difference.
How to contact our team
Work to install solar panels on the roof of Handsworth Community Fire Station is beginning this week, in a move which will enable the organisation to generate clean and green electricity on-site - conserving vital environmental resources and saving the taxpayer around £1300 per year.
The installation is being funded by leading retailer Marks & Spencer as part of its Plan A eco and ethical initiative. Working in partnership with regional charity Groundwork West Midlands the scheme will also encourage more sustainable attitudes and behaviours in surrounding communities.
In optimum conditions the solar panels should generate 5,509 kWh of electricity per annum – more than enough to power an average home in the West Midlands for a year!
Mike Griffiths, Director of Finance at West Midlands Fire Service said: “This installation is a further demonstration of how committed the organisation is to protecting the environment. The scheme means that the West Midlands Fire Service can benefit from savings generated by recycling the electricity and qualifying for the Governments Feed in Tariffs (FITs)”, currently 16.8 pence for every Kilowatt produced.
“It’s a win-win situation for us because we are able to give something back to the community by generating electricity on site in an environmentally friendly way at the same time as saving money”, Mr Griffiths added.
Handsworth Community Fire Station is the first in the West Midlands to be fitted with solar panels and work is underway to identify other suitable sites across the organisation that could take advantage of the energy generating devices.
Richard Schneider from Groundwork West Midlands said: “This scheme presents an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the value of FITs to community buildings and organisations. Once installed, the Fire Station will be able to operate as a best practice example within the local community, and act as a catalyst for individual and domestic action”.
Carmel McQuaid, Climate Change Expert at Marks & Spencer said: “We’re delighted to be working with Groundwork and the West Midlands Fire Service to fund this green energy initiative. We’re committed to supporting local communities in the UK and making a difference when it comes to climate change. That’s why this project is important to us, because it delivers on both by benefiting the community financially and helps a key local service go green.”
