COMMUNITY hubs in Hampshire can apply for a grant worth £1,000 to help pay for energy bills this winter.

Twenty-four grants, each worth £1,000, are being awarded across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight by Southern Water.

The company has launched a Community Centre Grants scheme for a second year; in partnership with delivery partner CMDP, a venture between Costain, a construction engineering company, and MWH Treatment, a water infrastructure solutions company.

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The applications will close at midnight on Monday, December 11.

The support from the grant will go towards energy costs, helping relieve the pressure that community spaces face staying open during winter months.

Since the scheme was launched last year, it has helped support 20 community hubs with their energy bills including social pantries, homeless drop-in spaces and arts centres.

Alongside the grant, the hubs will receive support from Southern Water’s community, affordability, and vulnerability teams, who deliver talks and advice on topics such as saving money on bills.

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The Community Centre Grant is open to independently run community centres and spaces where activities such as local food banks, support groups and children’s programmes operate.

Alex Willumsen, community partnerships and programme manager at Southern Water said: “We continue to aim to build resilience and support for those facing challenges in our community.

"Through this grants scheme, which is part of three grant programmes open at the moment, we provide funding support designated directly to core utility costs to enable community spaces to continue to operate over winter months and support our communities to thrive.”

For more information, and to apply for the grant, visit southernwater.co.uk.