Press release: CREW Energy awarded £99,162 from Power to Change

​Community energy cooperative CREW Energy awarded £99,162 from Power to Change

Wandsworth- and Merton-based community energy cooperative CREW Energy has won a grant of £99,162 from independent trust Power to Change. The grant, part of the trust’s Next Generation Fund, will allow the coop to promote and fund community ownership of renewable heat to tackle three issues in our society: climate change, fuel poverty and air quality.
 
This funding will support CREW in achieving their goals of education, outreach, community funding, delivery and maintenance of heat networks and renewable heating systems. More specifically, the project being funded aims to deliver renewable heat to three sectors: commercial buildings – with a particular focus on civic centres – shared ground arrays in blocks of flats and in domestic homes. The Next Generation funding will mainly support CREW Energy as it develops projects in these three areas, as well as training staff in assessing renewable heat needs and supporting them as they launch their first community share offer this summer.

Toby Costin, CREW Chair said: “CREW Energy is very excited to have been awarded this grant as it will allow us to grow and support our local community on its path to sustainability.”
 
Will Walker, Programme and Investment Manager of Community Energy at Power to Change, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to support CREW Energy in their development of a sustainable business model that focuses on the provision of renewable heat. Next Generation aims to pioneer innovative ideas in community-led energy, and CREW Energy are doing just that. We’re looking forward to seeing the project progress.”
 
CREW Energy launched the project this month and have already identified their first civic site, with work beginning on the surveying and modelling phase. The next step is to launch a share offer for this project in the summer. To keep up to date on the project, or to find out how to invest, follow CREW on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn) or head to their website. If you live in south-west London and are interested in having a heat pump installed, please contact CREW directly at [email protected].

The Next Generation Fund offers grants of up to £100,000 to existing community businesses, based in England. Grants are designed to support the development of the next generation of community energy models that will allow groups to become  financially sustainable. For further information visit the Next Generation website.

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Notes to editors
 
About CREW Energy
 
CREW Energy is a Wandsworth- and Merton-based cooperative dedicated to improving the energy future of London. They do so with a strong community model to reduce fuel poverty, increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The future of London must be low carbon and CREW is here to help boroughs lead by example.
 
In 2019 and 2020 they saved a combined annual forecast of 112,500 kWh of energy, 30 tonnes of CO2e and £12,850 across three community buildings in Islington and Wandsworth.
 
www.crewenergy.london / @crewenergyldn / Facebook / LinkedIn
 
For more information please contact Toby Costin [email protected] or, for media enquiries, Amy Reid [email protected].
 
 
About Power to Change

Power to Change is the independent trust that supports community businesses in England.
Community businesses are locally rooted, community-led, trade for community benefit and make life better for local people. The sector owns assets worth £890m, and comprises 9,000 community businesses across England who employ 33,600 people. (Source: Community Business Market 2019)
 
From pubs to libraries; shops to bakeries; swimming pools to solar farms; community businesses are creating great products and services, providing employment and training and transforming lives. Power to Change received its endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2015.
 
www.powertochange.org.uk @peoplesbiz
 
For more information please contact: [email protected]

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.  
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We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.