The first Staffordshire Energetic Communities working groups have now taken place.
Local community groups, clubs and organisations came together with partners to talk about what life is like in their area, what is working well and what could be better.
The project is funded through the Just Transition Fund via Ofgem’s Energy Redress Scheme and is delivered in partnership with Support Staffordshire. It is working with communities in:
Boney Hay & Central, Chadsmoor, Chesterton, Highfields & Western Downs, Kinver, Leek North and Stapenhill.
The aim is to help each area create a Community Energy Plan. This is a local plan that looks at everyday challenges and explores how community energy could help provide a solution.
Ideas could include:
- Community Energy Cafés, where people can get trusted advice on bills, heating and saving energy
- energy efficiency checks for homes, community buildings or small local businesses
- support for people living in cold or hard-to-heat homes
- EV car clubs, so people can access shared electric vehicles when they need them
- solar panels or other clean energy projects on suitable local buildings
- training for local volunteers, so advice and support can stay in the community
- small local projects that help people reduce energy use and save money
There are many routes into community energy. To explore some examples, flick through our Community Energy Look Book and see what could be possible in your area. Staffordshire Energetic Communities is about local power for local people. It is about helping communities reduce costs, improve homes and buildings and keep the benefits of clean energy local.
The first sessions gave people the chance to share local knowledge, talk about challenges and suggest what might help. The next sessions will explore items like renewable energy, sustainability transport and energy efficiency. You don’t need any existing knowledge to attend these sessions.
There will be three more working group sessions in each area over the coming months. These will help turn the ideas into clear plans for local action.
If you live, work or volunteer in one of the project areas and would like to get involved, please email info@staffscommunityenergy.org.uk
