News
Marches Energy Agency Seeks East Midlands-Based Trustee
Tue, 28 February 2012Marches Energy Agency (MEA), a Midlands-based charity is seeking a representative from the East Midlands to sit on their Trustee Board/Board of Directors.
For the past three years MEA has delivered the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Authorities Energy Partnership Climate Change Communications Service, which involves, amongst other things, maintaining their Climate Change website: (www.everybodys-talking.org) and providing an interactive mobile exhibition focused on climate change, energy efficiency and domestic renewables. The exhibition has delivered more than 5000 tonnes of CO2 savings during this time and engaged more than 17,000 people. We also deliver the Community Climate Action Network in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, currently with funding from both the two county councils and the LAEP. This service offers monthly e-bulletins, a tailored desk-based research service and a range of other services to community groups focused on tackling climate change (for full list of services see: www.everybodys-talking.org/communities-area/community-support ).
Last year we collaborated with Apex Carbon Solutions to successfully bid to deliver the WarmStreets insulation scheme in the East Midlands. The scheme aims to deliver 28,000 loft and cavity wall installations before the end of CERT funding in December 2012.
We have also worked with a number of community groups and local authorities to obtain funding and deliver various training projects or events in the East Midlands, including recently helping in four Local Energy Assessment Fund bids, three of which were successful. In 2011 we won funding to deliver four Low Carbon Planning training events for communities at locations across the region. We have undertaken 31 community building audits in the East Midlands through the Community Sustainable Energy Programme - on average each audit identified CO2 savings of 24%).
As a registered charity it is a legal requirement to have a board of Trustees – volunteers who share the ultimate responsibility for the charity. As a company limited by guarantee, all our Trustees are also Directors.
Given the extent of our work in the East Midlands, our Trustees would like to see an individual with interests in the East Midlands, either through community or business partnerships or from a district council not currently represented on LAEP.
Trustees are ultimately responsible for the running of the charity. All operational management is delegated to our director Richard Davies, MBE. The Trustee Board meets once a quarter to oversee decisions and ensure legal compliance.
As a Trustee, you will learn a lot about how charities operate and gain experience in areas such as setting strategic goals, accounting, financial planning, employment practice and recruitment, or give you an opportunity to share these skills if you already have them.
As a Trustee you can be involved in work that you might not yet have had the chance to try as a paid employee.
For more information on MEA, please visit our website at www.mea.org.uk or if you are interested in finding out more about being a Trustee, please contact Wendy Tozer, Assistant Director on 01743 246007 / wendy@mea.org.uk
Community Chest: Funding for Community Buildlings
Fri, 17 February 2012 Western Power Distribution (WPD) have just launched their Community Chest grant scheme, and £50,000 is available to enable communities to install energy efficiency measures in community buildings. The grant is being administered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) who can also provide expert advice and guidance to help groups to carry out an audit of their buildings.
Community groups within WPD’s distribution area, which serves the Midlands, South and West Wales and the South West of England, can apply for grants of up to £1000, in order to pay for simple but effective energy efficiency measures to not only reduce their energy costs but also reduce the carbon emissions of the buildings they use for their activities.
Eligible measures include insulating loft spaces, installing energy monitors, draught proofing windows and doors, fitting effective heating controls and installing low energy lighting.
The application process is simple. Groups are asked to submit a short application form and provide quotes for recommended improvements, as well as completing an audit of their building. Guidance is provided on CSE’s website, www.cse.org.uk/wpdcc, or you can email wpdcc@cse.org.uk for more information.
Funding for Community Owned Renewable Projects: Early Stages
Tue, 7 February 2012Energy Share have posted the following item on their website:
'We know from speaking to you that one of the biggest problems facing renewable energy projects is financing those early stages. Planning applications, feasibility studies, legal advice, site surveys. Once these obstacles are out of the way funding for the installation itself is far more forthcoming . But until then many groups feel as though they are on their own.
'So what difference would £5,000 or £10,000 make? If energyshare was able to support you in raising this amount would it help to kick your project into action? Who's up for seed funding? This week get involved in our forum chat, add the name of your group and what you would do with the money and we will see what we can do...'
Visit the relevant forum page here: www.energyshare.com/forum/all/funding/new-community-fund/
Surviving Winter Appeal
Thu, 2 February 2012Derbyshire Community Foundation is launching the Surviving Winter Appeal which aims to help older people stay warm during the winter.
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free benefit that's paid automatically each winter to all eligible older people to help them keep warm. This is a vital payment for many older people who desperately need this support to ensure they can afford expensive heating bills. But for some pensioners who are more affluent they may feel that their allowance is not critical and many would like to give some or all of it to help other vulnerable people in their local community. Now there is a new opportunity do this through Derbyshire Community Foundations ‘Surviving Winter Appeal.
The Foundation is working hand in hand with Age UK Derby & Derbyshire to get 100% of donations to those that need it most. The appeal is supported by our Patrons the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire who have made the first donations.
If you would like to donate please contact Sarah Stainthorpe on 01773 514854.
The Co-operative Community Energy Challenge
Thu, 2 February 2012Looking to set up a community-owned renewable project? Need some help? Then the Community Energy Challenge could be just what you’re looking for.
The Community Energy Challenge is a bold new initiative by The Cooperative that will support a powerful set of community energy projects and help unleash a clean energy revolution across the UK. The Co-operative is seeking six to eight ambitious communities keen to develop projects that involve local people, change the way we think about energy, and inspire others to shape a renewable energy future.
The Community Energy Challenge will provide 12-18 months of enterprise development, mentoring, technical advice and community facilitation for six to eight communities, enabling them to initiate co-operative renewable energy projects at a significant scale (e.g. valued at £1m to £3m and/or rated in excess of 500kW). This support is being delivered by the Centre for Sustainable Energy on behalf of The Co-operative Group and aims to bring the selected community projects to a state of readiness for further support and investment from The Co-operative Enterprise Hub and The Co-operative Bank.
The Community Energy Challenge offers a supported application process designed to help communities develop strong project proposals, even from a standing start. Lack of technical know-how should not be a barrier and communities with ambition are encouraged to apply.
The Community Energy Challenge will operate a competitive bid process. All applications will be carefully evaluated and the final selection made by an expert panel.
The deadline for expressions of interest is 29 February 2012. See www.cse.org.uk/coopenergychallenge for more details.