News
Get ready for RCEF training
Wed, 15 January 2014CSE will be hosting a training event in March to help community groups make an application to the Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF). The session will help break down some key barriers, provide information for the particular situation each group finds itself in, and look at how to produce a focused application.
There will be space for two members from up to 16 groups and the training will take place in Bristol. The exact date and venue is yet to be confirmed, but the event will be structured into a series of surgeries covering topics such as:
• Renewable energy (pre-feasibility)
• Legal support
• Financial advice (project finance considerations etc)
• Running a community consultation
• Crowdfunding
• Setting up a community ESCo
Relevant professionals will lead each surgery including financial advice from Triodos bank, legal advice from TLT solicitors and technical advice from Garrad Hassan. WRAP, who administer the fund, will also be there to answer questions.
If you’d like to be put on a waiting list to attend the training, email us at
communites@cse.org.uk and we’ll contact you when registration is open.
Free Trees for Your Community
Wed, 15 January 2014
The Woodland Trust have over 3,000 free tree packs to give away to schools, community and youth groups. Apply before 10 January 2014 for the chance to receive a free tree pack to plant in March.
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/in-your-community/
Free Energy Efficient Communities Events
Wed, 8 January 20141st February 2014, Matlock
15th March 2014, Hockerton Housing Project
FREE
A free training event to equip you with practical tools and ideas to lower your energy bills, make your home more energy efficient and help others in your community do the same.
- Try out some practical tools
- Hear about inspiring projects in other communities (keynote speaker from the RECCKN project: http://vimeo.com/70110525)
- Find out how to lower energy use in community buildings
- Find out about sources of funding
- Meet others who want to/are doing the same
Places are limited and pre-booking is essential: http://bit.ly/17U5FJF
Question? Contact Caroline Harmon: caroline.harmon@mea.org.uk / 07748 508704
January E-News Out Now
Wed, 8 January 2014Our latest monthly e-newsletter is out now. It's packed full of the latest local and national news on climate change and energy. Read it online.
Subscribe to get future issues straight to your inbox: email ccan@mea.org.uk with you name, email address and the name of any relevant community group or organisation you belong to or work for.
For more regular updates keep an eye on our website or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.
Rural Community Energy Fund
Wed, 11 December 2013
The Rural Community Energy Fund (RCEF) is now available to rural communities in England who are considering a renewable energy project. Stage 1 provides grant funding of up to £20,000 to fund investigating viability. Stage 2 provides an unsecured loan of up to £130,000 to develop a robust business case and planning application. The funder, WRAP, have revealed that some early applications to the scheme have not shown that there has been engagement with the wider community about the proposed project. Consulting the community is therefore a critical part of the application.