The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has published a new toolkit to help community energy groups involve a wider range of people in their work. Funded by the National Lottery, it draws on learnings from the Energy Learning Network, a UK-wide project that brought together 23 organisations. The result is a practical resource packed with real-world examples and case studies from across the sector.
Why does this matter?
Community energy plays a vital role in the shift to clean, affordable power. But research suggests the sector is not yet reaching everyone it could. Most community energy groups are led and joined by a fairly narrow group of people, which means many communities are missing out on the benefits.
As the sector is set to grow rapidly, now is the right time to think about who is involved. Without being intentional about it, the risk is that the benefits, including lower bills, local ownership and clean power, continue to reach the same people. The toolkit makes the case that bringing more people in strengthens organisations, builds new skills, deepens community trust and helps secure long-term funding.
What's inside
Good-practice ideas
Practical tools for engaging different people and getting to know your community.
How the organisation runs
Recruitment approaches and policies that support diversity and inclusion.
Youth engagement
How to involve young people in tasks, projects and governance.
Investing and share offers
Models and ideas for making share offers more inclusive and accessible.
Involving people differently
Ways to get people involved that do not require any financial commitment.
Plans and impacts
Templates for setting goals and measuring progress on widening participation.
Wellbeing and collective care
Reducing burnout and managing wellbeing across your organisation.
Resourcing your work
Training and funding options to support your widening participation work.
Widening Participation Toolkit
Also available in Welsh. Free to download.
This toolkit is published by the Centre for Sustainable Energy and was made possible through funding from the National Lottery, as part of the Energy Learning Network. For questions or feedback, email communities@cse.org.uk.