1. Community Impact
As the year draws to a close, we’re proud to share how we’ve put the surplus income from our solar farm to work, supporting some truly fantastic local projects. Over the past months, we’ve allocated nearly £400,000 to tackle fuel poverty, promote sustainability and drive progress toward net-zero. Read the newsletter below, written by CfR’s Communications and Impact Coordinator, Ella Messetter, to find out how these funds will make a real difference in our community!
£320,000 grant fuels Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank’s expansion
HECE is thrilled to award a £320,000 grant to Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank, empowering them to expand their reach and better serve our community. Over the next three years this funding will support the Foodbank’s new satellite locations, bringing food parcel collection points closer to underserved areas.
Davina Logan, SUA Foodbank Chair of Trustees: “We’re delighted with the funding from HECE, it has come at just the right time for us, as we are going through a period of change and development and the grant gives us security and confidence to move forward… the expansion of our satellite locations has already proven to be impactful, and this grant will allow us to reach even more people in need. We are deeply grateful for this support.”
Tony Guy, HECE Director: “In these challenging times, Stratford-upon-Avon Foodbank is doing fantastic work in our local community to support those who are in need. HECE is proud to financially support its transition to a more accessible service. This funding is crucial in meeting the growing demand for support."
John Stott, HECE Chairman: “It’s incredibly rewarding to use the money earned from selling electricity from our solar farm to help those in need. Projects like this are why we, as volunteer directors, dedicate our time."
The grant will help the Foodbank establish a more flexible, decentralised model, with new food distribution points launched at Bishopton Community Centre, Meon Vale Village Hall, Escape Arts Heritage Centre and the Ken Kennett Centre. It will also support a central hub in Stratford, a dedicated delivery van and part-time staff to manage operations. With this expansion, the Foodbank aims to distribute over 5,000 food parcels annually, while also connecting individuals to local agencies like Citizens Advice to tackle the root causes of hardship.
Carbon Literacy Project: £2,000 boost for climate action!
We’ve become a Bronze Partner of The Carbon Literacy Project! This December, HECE donated £1,000 to the Carbon Literacy Project, which was matched to create an exciting £2,000 boost!
In doing so, have made a tangible contribution to increasing Carbon Literacy, and ensuing decarbonisation, at the scale necessary to truly tackle climate change! Next year, the project aims to double its reach, targeting 200,000 Carbon Literate Learners and HECE is thrilled help roll that snowball even faster!
Act on Energy’s winter crisis support
With winter upon us, HECE has awarded £26,000 to Act on Energy, supporting vulnerable households across Stratford and Warwick districts. The funding will help families with fuel payment credits, prepayment vouchers and low-level energy debt clearance, alongside small energy-saving measures to improve warmth and reduce energy bills. The funding builds on £23,000 awarded earlier this year, which helped 52 households with over 250 measures.
£11,625 grant for Trinity Court Surgery
HECE has awarded a grant of £11,625 to Trinity Court Surgery, which will fund two new initiatives for patients facing fuel poverty and social deprivation.
Social Prescribing Programme: Integrating nature-based and water-based activities into patient care to enhance both physical and mental wellbeing, helping to reduce stress, improve cardiovascular health and promote resilience.
Hardship Fund: Providing urgent support for vulnerable patients.
Ongoing support for Citizens Advice South Warwickshire (CASW)
This year, HECE provided over £3,200 each quarter to CASW part-funding their grants admin team to provide essentials like furniture, clothing and heating to those in need. From July to September, HECE’s funding supported 75% of grant admin activities, enabling 61 grants totalling £11,996 for 28 clients. These included freezers, furniture, washing machines, school uniforms and food vouchers.
HECE also contributed £15,000 in hardship funding to help individuals facing financial challenges with vital items such as fridges, freezers, cookers and food vouchers. This ongoing partnership is an effective way for us to contribute to the well-being of our community, ensuring that CASW can continue to provide support to those who need it most.
2. Q3 performance update
In the final quarter, HECE generated 4,761 MWh, slightly falling short of our target (3% below P50 projections). This shortfall was mainly due to cloudier-than-expected weather in September, which saw sunshine levels 17% below the monthly average. However, August was a standout month, exceeding expectations by 8.45% with 1,733 MWh generated.
Overall, our sites performed reliably, with no major technical issues impacting generation. From a financial standpoint, HECE remains in a strong and stable position heading into 2025.
3. News and resources
HECE wins big at the Community Energy Awards!
HECE was Highly Commended at the National Community Energy Awards in November for our work in tackling fuel poverty! The recognition highlights our £70,000 funding for Act on Energy’s Complex Caseworker pilot program, which has helped over 700 households in Warwick and Stratford by providing tailored energy advice, access to grants and practical solutions to tackle energy costs and fuel poverty.
Solar farm shines in new tech documentary
In September, HECE’s solar farm was the backdrop for a new documentary by the University of Sheffield and Sort of… Films. The film explores new research on molecular photonics and its potential impact on solar power. With drone footage of the farm, the documentary aims to make complex science accessible to teenagers and the wider public. Keep an eye out for its release!
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