Local charity heading to net zero with our support

About Zink

Zink is a charity based in Buxton that provides services to people and families, including a food bank, welfare and employment support, and community services such as an eco café and a wide range of wellbeing activities. 

"We support people experiencing issues like poverty, unemployment, chaotic housing or homelessness, and isolation," explains CEO Paul Bohan.

The support received

Zink always set out to be an environmentally-conscious organisation, so when Paul heard that funding was available through the 'Net Zero Accelerator' (part of Derbyshire Accelerator), he jumped at the opportunity.

Through this scheme, the charity obtained a grant to pay for the installation of solar panels on its building, which now power the oven in Zink's community eco café. They were also signposted to Investors in the Environment — a membership accreditation scheme for organisations looking to reduce their impact on the environment — and joined this.

The impact it had

Paul explains how the Net Zero Accelerator funding and support has benefitted Zink: "We always wanted to be an eco-friendly organisation, but this has really speeded that up. The fact that we’ve now got solar panels that provide most of our electricity during the summer, is fantastic."

By joining Investors in the Environment, Zink now has a sustainable business plan and is able to manage its waste and electricity use in a transparent way. It can also measure how it's improving in these areas.

Zink will be making use of University support again shortly, when it recruits an intern, whose wages will be subsidised through the Productivity through Innovation scheme.

"We do plan for further expansion of our services. We are fairly new in our current premises and have expanded rapidly in the last couple of years. We intend to keep up that momentum," says Paul.

Watch an interview with Paul

About Derbyshire Accelerator

Derbyshire Accelerator was one strand of the East Midlands Accelerator Programme. East Midlands Chamber led the programme, with other partners in Derbyshire including our University, Derbyshire County Council, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire and The Food and Drink Forum. The project was part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Derbyshire Accelerator has now closed but you can explore our other funded support programmes for businesses.