A CHARITY founded in 2018 to address social isolation, loneliness, and poverty, is making significant strides towards sustainability thanks to support from a programme led by Busnes@LlandrilloMenai. Brighter Futures is based in a former pub in Rhyl, and serves as a focal point for the community, hosting various groups and activities.
In its latest initiative, Brighter Futures has partnered with the fully funded Green Digital Academy to explore ways to reach net zero and reduce energy use. The programme offered through Busnes@LlandrilloMenai aims to help the charity lessen its environmental impact and increase engagement with the community through social media.
Shane Owen, a trustee with Brighter Futures explains: “Through our partnership with Green Digital Academy, we’ve been able to implement significant changes to how we work and put a plan in place on how we reach net zero emissions. Thanks to support we’ve replaced mains gas heating with a renewable air-source heat pump and installed low-flow water taps and toilets.
“These improvements are crucial to our commitment to reduce carbon emissions and achieving net zero target. We’re also now on track to generate more electricity on site through our solar panels and have increased our storing capacity with a new battery system.”
The next steps for Brighter Futures include installing internal wall insulation, researching carbon-saving technologies, and updating outdated IT equipment. By 2026, the aim is to introduce rainwater harvesting and to reduce dependency on fossil fuels for their vans with the goal of becoming completely fossil-fuel-free by 2050.
Busnes@LlandrilloMenai is part of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and provides training and support to businesses in the region. The project helps SMEs take action to meet growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products and services.
Donna Hodgson, Regional Project Manager with Busnes@LlandrilloMenai, is responsible for the Green Digital Academy. She said: “Often smaller businesses and organisations don’t know where to start in terms of reducing carbon emissions. This programme is designed to help them prioritise and understand what’s best for them.
“I would encourage SMEs and organisation like Brighter Futures in any sector in Denbighshire to contact us if they are interested in working with us. The programme is fully funded, and with our support, they can access expert advice and funding to put them on the right track to reduce carbon in a way that benefits their business and the environment.”
As well as Busnes@LlandrilloMenai, Green Digital Academy partners include the Isle of Anglesey County Council, Cyngor Gwynedd, Conwy County Borough Council, Denbighshire Council and Flintshire Council.
