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January 2019 News
We would like to thank you for your ongoing support of Selce's activities and as another busy month comes to a close, here is the latest news...
The SELCE Team
In case you missed our Christmas newsletter, check it out here...
Strategy Day Royal Greenwich Awards
Big Energy Saving Week ECO Blitz Volunteer Day
Strategy Day
We kicked off January with a brainstorm day at the beautiful Beckenham Place Mansion. Our session focused on concept development and strategic planning.
Alex and Nadia put forwards presentations on the state of the community energy sector and discussed examples of innovative post-subsidy business models we have seen from groups like Energy Local, CREW and more.
In the afternoon session we discussed our current post-subsidy plans including our applications to the Power to Change's Next Generation Fund. This is a £1m+ fund and expert support programme to pioneer innovative community-led energy projects. SELCE is exploring the potential to launch a low carbon car club and community housing scheme.
We also took a detailed look at our current work. Discussions ranged from progress on the ECO Project (which has reached hundreds of people through free fuel poverty support, training sessions, energy efficiency measures) to the best way of revamping SELCE's Solar Roller.
After a day of debate, discussion and a few head scratches, the board emerged with a strongly focused plan for 2019 and beyond. The day also helped to re-energise our passion for combating climate change and developing cleaner, fairer ways of producing electricity.
Big Energy Saving Week
“It feels like we were trying to break a record for the number of back-to-back energy advice sessions" said Eliza Stuart, SELCE energy advisor.
Last week was Big Energy Saving Week (21st – 27th Jan) and was for us, a marathon week of energy advice. We held five events in five London Boroughs (Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bromley and Bexley) and gave in depth energy advice to 76 households and trained 15 front line staff.
Held in shopping centres, libraries and community centres, the events attracted a vast range of people living in very different circumstances who are struggling to cover the cost of heating their homes.
Alongside our usual energy advice desk, participants enjoyed winter crafting activities with Mary Jane transforming old jumpers into draft stopper snakes, hot-water bottles and fingerless gloves. Our trusty collaborators GCDA also healthy lifestyle advice and yummy healthy lunch. Groundwork London also sent Green Doctors along to support the energy advice marathon.
“Full-on” “non-stop” and ”worthwhile” “rewarding” are all words you could use to describe the week. A huge thank you to Eliza who coordinated the week, energy advisers, our volunteers, Groundwork London Green Doctors, GCDA, Mary Jane (community crafter) and local authorities, library staff.
Shortlisted for two Royal Greenwich Business Awards
Selce has been shortlisted for the Royal Greenwich Business Awards in both the Greener Greenwich and the Social Business categories. There's a lot of competition for these awards as a few of our close friends have also been nominated as well. The shortlisting includes the Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency, METRO Charity and amazing teams such as the Middle Park Community Centre. We hope to meet the other teams at the Awards afternoon on Friday 15th February at the Intercontinental Hotel, O2 (also the site of our proposed Aluna project! See the Christmas newsletter for more details on that.).
Making homes warmer for less - ECO Blitz
Does it enrage you to learn that 1 in 10 SE Londoners can’t afford to keep their homes warm? Does it make you livid to think of all the unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions due to the fact that so much of our housing stock in SE London leaks heat? If the answer to this question is ‘Yes’, don’t get mad, do something about it: join us for our next ECO Blitz Volunteer day 2nd March 2019.
We’ll be knocking on doors and talking to folk about the cost of heating and giving them the opportunity to get grant funded home energy improvements such as loft, cavity, wall and underfloor insulation. It’s always fun and enlightening. You’ll get to meet lots of other like minded people and do something positive. Many thanks to Geroid, Tony, Laura, Tristan and Gi – our January ECO Blitz team who did great work on beautiful bright, bitterly cold day in Rushey Green last Saturday.
You may be eligible to benefit from the scheme if you: own your home; rent from a private landlord; live within a low income area of Lewisham; and struggle to keep warm at home.
All the home energy improvements on offer are either fully or partly funded through the government-run Energy Companies Obligation or ECO. Selce's role is to identify eligible households and, to spread the word, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Do you (or anyone you know) live in a home that could benefit from some first class insulation work? If so, please book an appointment for a home visit assessment by going to our website. Please note that if you are a tenant you will need permission from your landlord.
Download our New Director Posters
Book an energy cafe appointment
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Our mailing address is: SELCE, c/o GCDA, Unit 6, Greenwich Centre Business Park, 53 Norman Road, London SE10 9QF Tel: 020 8269-4882 Email: info@selce.org.uk
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