We hope you are enjoying the last weeks of summer 🌞.

This month - Warm Homes Discount deadline, our Growing the Alternatives event on 13 Sept, Waterside Academy LED lighting & energy advice project, 5 things to do to prepare your home for Winter, the Other Current film & meeting the Energy Consumers Minister.

We are also recruiting a Finance Coordinator (ends soon) and Fundraising & Project Development Officer - more here.

Please do share this newsletter with any friends, relatives or contacts you think would also be interested.

Warm Homes Discount - Make Sure You’re Registered

Eligible households must be named on their electricity bill by Sunday 24 August to receive the £150 Warm Home Discount automatically. The correct bill payer may not be named if you’ve recently moved, changed supplier or if the account is in a partner’s name.

Billpayers in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible if they receive: Housing Benefit, Income-related ESA, Income-based JSA, Income Support, Pension Credit (Guarantee or Savings Credit), or Universal Credit. Pre-payment meter users must ensure their account is in their name - find out more.

Growing the Alternatives - Be There on 13 Sept

Join us on Saturday 13 September for a family-friendly day of community building, skill-sharing and learning - creating the alternatives we need for people and the planet.

Growing the Alternatives will include:

Interactive sessions on renewables, retrofit, low carbon cooking and tackling climate disinformation, workshops on land justice, housing, decolonising economics, not to mention child-friendly activities, art and crafts, bike repairs, community choir, plus more TBA!

Grab your ticket here.

^{This event is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund and the Mayor of London, as part of the Mayor’s Community Weekend 2025.}

Five Things to Check in Your Home in Summer to Avoid Heating Problems in Winter 💡

While we’re not using the heating, it’s easy to forget it’s even there until winter comes around again.

But here are 5 simple things we can all do even in Summer – that take only a few minutes and will save lots of time later on.

Once done you can face the coming winter, with greater peace of mind that you have taken steps to avoid long waits on the phone to a call centre (and a cold home) when the temperature drops.

Read Simon, the Heat Doctor’s full post.

New Selce Case Study: Waterside Academy

Energy Saving in the Classroom, Energy Advice in the Community:

This was a two-fold project - an LED lighting energy saving project aiming to significantly reduce the school’s electricity consumption and carbon footprint, and on the other; to integrate a dedicated energy advice program for pupil parents, and local members of the community.

The energy advice component of the project is ongoing, ensuring that the benefits of the initiative extend beyond the school and into the wider community - read the full case study.

Ending with: a Chilean documentary on Community Energy & Meeting the Minister

“This is a circular business model. Our solar panels make a surplus. That surplus is used to finance our fuel poverty alleviation work… saving our clients on average £350 per year, which is significant.”

Giovanna and Steven of Selce feature in a new Chilean documentary film, “La Otra Corriente” - The Other Current - the Power of Community Energy.

Watch Selce’s clip on LinkedIn or Instagram.

A few weeks ago, our CEO Giovanna joined community energy group colleagues for a really productive meeting with the Energy Consumers Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh in Peckham.

Among the topics discussed: distributed and renewable energy, lowering energy demand and ensuring no one is left behind in the process - three of the top aims of community energy.

We also spoke about the benefits community energy is delivering locally - from savings for essential services, to reducing carbon emissions.

Find out more

And finally, watch this space for Selce’s newest share offer, coming to a rooftop near you next month 🤞.