Image: Energise Sussex Coast

Free Hastings Energy Champions training at the White Rock Hotel

Energise Sussex Coast is holding a free one-day training for Hastings & St Leonards residents ‘passionate about making a difference’ to their local community. Energise Sussex Coast’s Gabriel Carlyle explains what will be happening.

Local community energy co-operative Energise Sussex Coast are holding a free one-day interactive training at the White Rock Hotel in Hastings (1-10 White Rock, TN34 1JU) on Tuesday 17 December, aimed at local people who are passionate about making a difference to the environment and the welfare of their local community.

The ‘Hastings Energy Champion Training’, which will run from 10am – 4.30pm, is open to anyone living in Hastings and St Leonards. Those wanting to attend should register for free on Event Brite: https://tinyurl.com/energychamp17dec

The training will enable attendees to give free energy advice to local people, helping them to save energy and bring down their bills. It will also introduce participants to the broader world of community energy projects, including thermal imaging and community solar. No previous experience is necessary.

Topics covered will include basic ways to stop energy wastage (such as draught-proofing and the use of boiler and heating controls), how to read an energy bill, the Priority Services Register (what it is and who it can help) and the various different discounts and schemes available to help people with their bills (eg. fuel vouchers and the Warm Home Discount).

Participants will also receive ongoing training and support from Energise Sussex Coast, empowering them to organise events and local activities around energy-saving and renewable energy. Energy Champions are expected to volunteer for around four hours a month following the training.

Two Wadhurst-based Energy Champions are interviewed by ITV Meridian during the month of Eco Open Homes events across the County. Photo: Energise Sussex Coast

Local Energy Champions have recently held advice stalls at apple-pressing events in Crowborough and Hastings and at the Alfriston Fayre, developed the first carbon footprint for Mayfield and Five Ashes ward, and run a month-long series of Eco-Open Homes events across the County.

The training on 17 December training will be run by Energise Sussex Coast’s Chris Richards, who started as an Energy Champion himself back in 2012 and has been involved in community energy projects ever since, most recently with the anaerobic bio-digester in Woody Wood in Hastings.

Refreshments and a free vegetarian lunch will be provided. Other trainings are taking place in Eastbourne, Crowborough, Saltdean and Bexhill. Anyone interested in attending those should email chris@energisesussexcoast.co.uk.

Energy Champion Amanda Jobson running an energy advice stall in Alexandra Park earlier this year. Photo: Amanda Jobson

Energy Champion and Hastings Borough Councillor Amanda Jobson said: ‘I’ve been an energy champion for over a year now. So many of us want our energy bills to reduce in price … offering solutions to keep the draughts out and keep the warm air in is essential this winter. It was concerning that many of the community need to insulate their lofts and hatches to keep the heat in, so giving advice was appreciated!’

Chris Richards added: ‘Becoming an Energy Champion is very rewarding as it’s a chance to genuinely help people in a very tangible way. Champions not only address the cost of living crisis by helping to bring down energy costs, they also do something about climate change by bringing down carbon emissions too.’

Founded in 2012, local community benefit cooperative Energise Sussex Coast works to tackle the climate crisis and energy injustice through community-owned renewable power and energy-saving schemes. It runs a free Energy Advice service to help local residents bring down the cost of their electricity, gas and water bills: 01424 390 062. Its sister coop, Energise South, has raised community investment to finance and install solar arrays on eight community buildings, including Baird Primary School and St Leonards Academy.

Energise Sussex Coast: www.energisesussexcoast.co.uk

Also in: Green Times