In March 2016, the Bristol Community Energy Fund panel came together for the first time to review applications and allocate funding. Congratulations to the 12 groups below which were successful in receiving grants. You can also use the project map on the Bristol Community Energy Fund website.
Bristol Community Energy Fund – round 1 grants
Ambition Lawrence Weston: Supporting several interns who are currently unemployed to work towards sustainable employment. The interns will work on various community energy projects gaining experience in household energy surveys, community engagement, solar panel production and thermal imaging.
Ashley Community Housing: Running an education and behavioural change programme for tenants across three sites, empowering local people to work as community champions and promote energy awareness. Offering practical advice and working with households to reduce energy usage and bills.
Awaz Utaoh: A series of Energy Awareness Days for South Asian women over 50 addressing issues like switching energy suppliers, managing payments and ways to save money through energy efficiency.
Bishopston, Cotham & Redland Energy Group: A series of short “taster” courses targeted to appeal to older and disabled people and families in the area helping them to explore their use of energy and take steps to manage it better, saving money and carbon.
Bristol Playbus: The Bristol Playbus local charity who will add solar panels to their “Sensory Truck”, a mobile sensory environment for children with a disability or life-limiting illness. The solar panels will mean that the equipment on the truck can work without the use of diesel generators.
CHEESE Project: The Cold Homes Energy Efficiency Survey Experts (CHEESE) project will be using thermal imaging technology to engage hundreds of householders across the city and advise on home energy efficiency improvements.
Demand Energy Equality: Delivering solar power awareness and solar panel manufacturing workshops to minority groups across the city. Teaching people from the community how to build solar panels and the importance of renewable energy sources.
Hillcrest Primary School: An energy auditing project where children take responsibility for saving energy in and outside of school hours. Includes the development of tools and methods that can be easily replicated in neighbouring schools.
Litterarti & Hillfields Youth Centre Illuminate!: An arts project to light up a youthclub in East Bristol to raise awareness and a smile whilst engaging local residents through art workshops and a winter exhibition event.
Re:Work: Employment of 2 part-time staff to undertake assessments and work in 50 homes in Knowle West to help local residents reduce their energy bills. This can include simple measures like fitting draught excluders and tackling more complex issues through behaviour change.
Sea Mills Boys and Girls Club: Replacing single glazed windows with energy-efficient UPVC at the club house and running a creative project to teach young people about energy efficiency in the context of the local area.
St Werburghs City Farm Green Energy Trail: Adding visual displays to St. Werburghs’ Connection Centre with the aim of telling the story about the energy efficiency and renewable energy measures being added to the site.