A CHARITY is counting on votes to help to keep its workers warm during the winter months by securing funding to improve its old farmhouse headquarters.

The Stockton-based autism charity Daisy Chain is in the running to pick up a share of the £400,000 put up for grabs by a company seeking to revolutionise the way members of the public interact with the energy industry.

M & S Energy aims to finance UK-wide renewable energy projects in local communities.

The Daisy Chain submission has already won through to the second phase of the competition and is appealing for your votes to increase their chances of going further.

“What we would really like to do is to install solar pv panels on the roof of the old farmhouse here at Calf Fallow Farm,” said Judith Haysmore, chief executive. “It’s an old building and can get pretty chilly in winter although we need it to house our support groups, alternative education and independent living skills courses.”

The application has been given the title The Power of Education and Support for Children with Autism, to reflect the educational benefits of the solar panels.

As the first piece of renewable technology on-site the panels would be incorporated into the programmes that help educate service users about the environment.

To be successful the charity needs the support of as many people as possible across the area. To vote, visit mandsenergyfund.com/project/28854/