The event, held at the club, brought together key partners, community members, and young innovators to honour the achievements of this initiative. The ‘Greener than Green’ project was a collaboration between the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH), Co-Lab Engineering, and Cleator Moor Celtic, challenging local youth to develop sustainable solutions to help reduce the club’s energy costs and carbon footprint.
Youth-driven sustainable solutions
Faced with rising energy costs, Cleator Moor Celtic, with over 400 members, sought to halve their energy bills. With support from iSH, Co-Lab Engineering, and various local organisations, 15 young members, aged between 12 and 14, spent their half-term holiday developing ideas to make the club more sustainable.
One year later, the project was completed with the unveiling of newly installed solar panels, funded by Sellafield Ltd and Electricity North West. The renewable energy generated will support the club’s future growth and reduce operational costs.
Collaboration and innovation drive change
Gary McKeating, managing director of iSH, praised the collaboration, saying, “This project is a real partnership between Cleator Moor Celtic and the local business community. Involving the club’s young members has been a huge success, creating a legacy for them and the club.”
Euan Hutton, CEO of Sellafield Ltd, highlighted the broader impact: “The fact that these young people saved their local football club money with a renewable, sustainable solution fills me with hope for the future.”
Empowering the next generation
Twin sisters Sofia and Lilly Murphy, who participated in the project, shared their experiences: “I enjoyed learning new engineering skills,” said Sofia, while Lilly added, “Learning about renewable technologies was a great experience.”
Cleator Moor Celtic Club chairman Neil Grears expressed gratitude to all involved, saying, “This project is all about sustainability, self-sufficiency, and using natural resources. It means an awfully great deal to a non-profit organisation like ours.”
Peter Hodgson, a key supporter of the project, hopes the outcome will bring pride and belonging to everyone involved: “The Greener than Green challenge was about ensuring the club’s sustainability for future generations.”
The event concluded with remarks from Gary McKeating, who said, “Sports clubs like this are at the heart of our community, and sustainability is at the heart of everything for Sellafield, iSH, and the wider community.”