Conference session

Editor's Notes

• #16: So first up – a bit of background on who we are! Solar Schools is a project run by the carbon cutting charity 10:10. Depending on how you came across Solar Schools, some of you may have heard of us, but for those who haven’t, we launched in 2009 off the back of a climate change documentary titled “The Age of Stupid”. The campaign was rooted in a simple yet powerful idea … that it’s positive, practical ambitious action that creates lasting change … in 2009, that idea took the form of a simple ask - we called on businesses, organisations and individuals to cut their carbon by 10% in a 12 months and for them to work with us to use their stories as the impetus and mandate that society and politicians need to help drive us towards a more sustainable future.
• #17: We quickly built up a huge following … over 100k pledges – from big multi nationals to council caretakers butchers churches and football clubs … all cutting their carbon under the 1010 banner. And our 10:10ers as we call them have achieved, and continue to achieve amazing things … At the same time, we were also pioneering carbon reduction in schools - working with Action aid to deliver help and support to over 2k + education organisations, including schools of all shapes and sizes… What we saw with that original 10% ask campaign, was that give people the right tools and support and they can achieve WAY more impressive things we, in our office in Camden, could ever dream off. And that realisation is something we continue to build on with Solar Schools. In fact, the idea for Solar Schools actually came out of a visit to one of our original 10:10 schools.
• #18: This is Fox School in South London, they were working with us to cut huge chunks out of their carbon footprint, and as part of that they managed to secure some grant funding to install a solar rig. And while the panels themselves are undeniably lovely, it was the impact that they had had on the school that really struck us. They integrated the panels completely in to school life- lesson plans, assemblies, the whole identity of their school. At Fox, where they had already making some great progress, the transformation was impressive – revitalising those already working in eco and bringing in those less interested. Not only did the panels themselves get to work reducing their energy bills but the behaviour change they stimulated saw a further huge drop. We came away from that trip thinking, if panels can do that for this school, then why doesn’t every school in the country have them. And of course – the answer is finance. While panels are undoubtably a great investment for school, the majority just don’t have the upfront capital they need to make their installs (I don’t need to tell any of you that!) – and while there are rent-a-roof options out there, we felt they were selling schools short – both in terms of the possible financial benefits, but more importantly, in terms of recreating that impact that had so struck us at Fox – that opportunity use the panels to bring the whole school and community together around something really exciting. So, with grants drying up and school budgets tighter than ever, we thought the answer lay in a new fundraising model … Enter Solar Schools…
• #19: So, at it’s most simple, Solar Schools is a fundraising tool kit, made up of a number of elements that enable you to do more than just raise money … The model we’re using is known as crowdfunding, and I’m sure you may well have come across it in various forms – the idea is to raise a large amount of money in small donations from a large number of people. And the toolkit and training we provide has been designed to help you to engage the widest possible number of people. People can get involved by donating as little or as much as they like – raising the funds you need in this way means that not only do you accrue the money you need to install those panels, but in the process you’re strengthening old links, forging news ones and bringing your community together behind a clean energy campaign and around your school. Plus, because everyone plays a part in fundraising – not only does it give staff and students a great platform for flexing and developing new skills and learning about energy and climate change in a totally new way, but it creates a sense of ownership that ensures the panels themselves are just the first step in a wider carbon cutting journey. So, Solar Schools is about way more than just getting panels on roofs – but enough of the big picture – on with the toolkit! A typical Solar School, will raise £8,000 – £10,000 to install around 8 kilowatts of solar panels: Bring in over £20,500 in Feed-in Tariff payments Save a school over £400 a year in electricity bills Save over 87,500 kg of carbon dioxide emissions. A new way to teach pupils. New enthusiasm for eco work. Improved links with parents, local businesses and organisations. Increased profile of the school. New skills and confidence.
• #20: The Solar Schools toolkit is made up of two key components – the resources (online and offline) that we provide to you, and a package of training, support and mentoring that will be delivered across the year.
• #21: Here we have a recipe for Solar Schools success, as told by our Superstars of 2014, Fitzmaurice Primary. They raised a whopping £17,000 in just 9 months thanks to their commitment, amazing events – who doesn’t want to spend their Saturday morning being part of a table tennis marathon?!, community outreach and incredible communications. No one in the town hadn’t heard about the project as it was everywhere, business windows, supermarkets They really made the project part of the whole community, not just the school. As a result, when they reached their target they said: The lovely thing is, it has bought people into the school who have never been or had a connection with it before” High praise indeed.
• #22: It is not just Fitzmaurice that have seen these community benefits either. Last year, we were fortunate enough to be funded by Nesta to undertake some evaluation and learning research so we could better understand the impact Solar Schools is having around the country. We recruited a qualitative researcher to assist and survey a variety of contacts who had lead on the project, donors, local members of the community and students, the results of which showed that Solar Schools was perhaps even better than we had thought and one of the things it did best was build communities and confidence! Schools raise more than ever before and as part of this they build new networks and reach out to different contacts. With their toolkit and a variety of events, from the traditional cake sales and sponsored runs to more formal balls, fun ceilidhs and even better auctions of promises (where two women paid £910 for a date with rugby star, Gavin Henson!) This variety means that everyone in the community can get involved, resulting in 79% of volunteers feeling closer to their community and 100% of schools improving their links with businesses. We’ve had some schools claim it has ‘restored their faith in community spirit’ and ‘seen more people come into the school than ever before’. As well as this community cohesion, the training has provided 100% of volunteers with skills that they will continue to use in the future as well as gaining a better understanding of how community projects are set up and run. This shows that it is not a begging bowl, you aren’t just asking people to give you money with nothing in return. They have the opportunity to be part of something really exciting and special, meet new people, gain new skills and improve their own links with the local community.
• #23: We hoped that, like at Fox Schools, the panels would encourage further behavior change in the community and our research has shown that it most definitely has. We’ve seen the students get stuck right in, telling off teachers for not turning off the lights and fighting over who is going to be the eco warrior chief of their group. Headteachers have gone on to install solar panels on their own roofs and local milkmen have even been inspired and installed panels on their own homes. The project really does inspire people to give, strengthen and reinvigorate communities whilst spurring behavior change all at the same time.
• #24: As the research shows Solar Schools really widens the normal pool of supporters for renewable energy and climate change thanks to the model we use. As a result, the schools go all out in the media, showing the world that people, local communities are taking their own actions on climate change around the country, ensuring the coverage is positive and engaging – hopefully bringing other people on side and showing that they too can take action!
• #25: So, where are we so far: We’ve worked with 65 schools around the country and last week we reached the huge milestone of £450k raised for renewable energy, all by those 65 schools! Quite some feat isn’t it. We’re currently in the process of structuring the next year of Solar Schools and are looking at various different options such as different investment models, more energy efficiency included and stronger pupil engagement. As well as this we are hoping to broaden the model to work with a more diverse audience.
• #26: The first stage of which is already well under way. We’re working with the greater Manchester centre for voluntary organisations to help community groups go solar, using a slightly altered model to it’s Solar Schools crowdfunding predecessor. A potential mixture between crowdfunding and investment opportunities. Don’t be jealous – anyone fancy a solar Camden?
• #27: With this work with GMCVO we have been able to create an entirely new website to host this new donation system. This website can be easily transferred to other community groups and can include a diverse group of organisations as well as allowing input from community consultations to ensure the website suits their needs. As well as this website, we can provide our wrapped up package of tailored support and resources. Anyone want to start a solar camden? As you have heard, at 10:10 our whole ethos is about providing the tools and resources for people and communities to go out and take action on climate change, uniting to develop low carbon project, and ultimately a low carbon world and we’d love to work with you all to help make that happen.
• #30: Taken from 30th anniversary report. Established 1979. Charity with no core funding. Over the last 18 months we’ve delivered projects for around 50 different clients – LA’s, HA’s, Government dept. NHS, Universities, All England Lawn Tennis Club – charities and trust. Activity split broadly across 3 teams: Household: Advice projects, much of it working directly with fuel poor households. Telephone advice line for Somerset & Bristol, home visits, switching schemes, also training frontline staff such as care/NHS workers etc. Research & Technical: Policy analysis, tools such as National Housing Model and the National Heat Map. Energy audits – such as Wimbledon. Community projects: Work with communities on community led sustainable energy projects. Training, engagment work, advice, creating resources, delivering grant competitions. Generally have around 60 different projects on the go at any one time across CSE.
• #31: The Source – favourite toolkits and resources – education, running events, generating energy, using less energy, consultation, Planning, managing projects, finance and legals. GOH – Ongoing, new round of funding for grant competition. Last year supported 49 organisations opening to over 10,000 visitors. Camden Green Open Homes weekend (Sarah Nicholl – 21c Homes). www.greenopenhomes.net PlanLoCaL – www.planlocal.org.uk – comprehensive resource for renewables, planning system and delivering energy efficiency projects. Case studies, exercises, film explaining technologies/projects etc. Also the model, 4m representation showcasing the deployment of multiple renewable technologies across a landscape going from dense urban out into the countryside. Available to hire from us - £90. UCEF – Funded by DECC, designed to kick start renewable energy project in urban areas. Up to 20k grant and £130k loan. Map on CSE website to determine if you are rural/urban. Sits alongside RCEF so all groups should be covered by one of these two funds. Community group and LA/HA partnerships are eligible.
• #32: Dawn Wall – El Capitan. Why is it important? And why should we support events like this? DECC’s community energy strategy – Between 0.5 and 3GW of generation electric capacity delivered by community energy schemes by 2020. At the upper end this is a significant amount which can seem like quite a tall order to a small community group just starting out. To try and help feel like they’re part of something bigger we send out a regularly community newsletter which goes out to around 900 people each month with news about what’s happening across the community energy scene in the UK and we’re very active on social media as well. Partnerships - To CSE community energy is about empowerment. Although to many we are seen as the experts we’re certainly not the experts at knowing how each community across the UK works and we certainly wouldn’t presume what might be the best energy project for your community. But hopefully what we can do is provide groups with the necessary tools and support to deliver energy projects that not only help with achieve their aims, but will also help them aim higher and deliver ambitious projects.