We need to transform our energy system, not just to tackle climate change but also to address the inequalities that exist. 53 thousand households in London (15.2% of households) are ‘fuel poor’; this means that they cannot afford to pay for the electricity and gas to heat their homes. With the right kind of help, households can slash their energy bills by accessing grants and discounts to reduce bills and improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This programme aims to support your community group to get going with project work that will enable your community group to start providing the right kind of help

This programme is for community groups or voluntary organisatons who want to host a project in their local area that provides practical support and guidance for those living in fuel poverty. You’ll hear from two community energy practitioners who have “been there” and “done that” and won awards for their pioneering work tackling energy inequalities. It will help you create something right for your group and your area.

Come along to these learning events Tuesday 18th and 25th May 6-8pm on Zoom. This compact learning and peer mentoring program starts with two online learning sessions. These covers the fundamentals of planning, funding and delivering an impactful fuel poverty alleviation project. Please note these are not energy advior training sessions (though we will cover material relating to how to get trained as an advisor); they focus on supporting your group or social enterprise to develop a fuel poverty alleviation strand to your work.

Building on these sessions three people or three groups have the opportunity to apply for further via peer-to-peer mentoring and training. Three individuals will have the opportunity to get qualified as an energy advisor and be supported on their journey through funding for their first project and tackling their first cases

What will be covered in the sessions:

Session 1: What needs to be known and thought about ? (18th May)

• What is fuel poverty? – official definitions and the lived experience.
• What are the interventions into fuel poverty that an advisor can support clients with (energy and water market engagement, debt advice, light measures, grant funding for major measures, advocacy, advice about smart metering, white goods applications)
• Types of projects that support those in fuel poverty (workshops, energy cafes, home visits, champion projects, hybrid partnership projects). The pros and cons of these types of projects
• Community outreach and identifying those in fuel poverty.
• Ways of funding a project (The Big Energy Saving Network, local funds, utility and industry funders, tender responses)

Session 2: Is it for you? (25th May)

• Does it fit with your groups mission and values
• Competitor analysis and geographical incidence of fuel poverty
• Requisite policies, procedures, insurances
• Gettting the requisite qualifications, skills and experience
• Data collection and data management
• Feeling YOUR way: top tips for identifying the best way to meet need in your community.

We recommend coming to BOTH sessions

The 3 group representatives going forward in the program will then:

• Undertake the online City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Energy Awareness (funded)
• Shadow SELCE advisors on at least 10 advice sessions
• Lead on telephone-based energy advice with 5 clients from their own community supervised by SELCE energy advisors.

Each group will get 2 days mentoring to support them to be funding or commissioning ready, get support them to develop policies, procedures relating to data protection and safeguarding and help to analyse what would constitute an effective intervention into fuel poverty in their local area. They will also get fundraising support for their first fuel poverty alleviation project via requisite competitor and statistical analysis, explore local partnerships and engage in dialogue with the local authority culminating in applications and bids ready to go.

Your facilitators and peer mentors Dr Giovanna Speciale is CEO of Selce, DIrector of CEL and Retrofit Works and Alex Hartley is Cofounder of Selce and voluntary DIrector for Crew Energy, GCDA and Coops London and together they have nearly of 30 years of relevant experience.