Further Resources
Harbury Future Energy and Low Carbon Warwickshire Network (LCWN)
Harbury Future Energy (HFE) is a Community Interest Company that began as an EV charging station project for Harbury in 2019. Upon completion of this project, the CIC was set up with the aim of continuing and expanding the work of Harbury Energy Initiative (HEI). After merging with HEI in November of 2024, the CIC’s aim is to continue building on the past successes of HEI in improving the energy efficiency of local community buildings and providing help to residents in cutting their carbon emissions and energy bills. More information can be found on their homepage.
HFE is part of The Low Carbon Warwickshire Network, which aims to connect low carbon groups across the county, sharing ideas and stimulating and supporting new activities. The network currently consists of 47 community groups, and 220 individual members. Membership to the network is free of charge.
A Facebook Group has been established to enable members to communicate with each other and share information and ideas. A second public LCWN Facebook site has also been set up alongside it.
Further resources, including a list of current community activities, an event planning checklist, and more, can be found on their homepage here.
A link to the most recent newsletter can be found here.
Advice for Churches: Diocese of Coventry
The Diocese of Coventry is a regional division of the Church of England. It oversees Anglican churches, clergy, and church schools across much of Warwickshire and parts of the West Midlands, including Warwick and Leamington Spa.
Their website pages have local Net Zero resources, including Net Zero loan equipment for monitoring heating systems, information on Diocesan Net Zero grants, and local Case Studies. Further information can be found on their website via their Caring for the environment tab.
Listen on Spotify to Zero Interest, their topical and contemporary Podcast series, or via Apple Podcasts.
They recommend some other useful resources: The Church of England’s Routemap to Net Zero Carbon. The Practical Path to Net Zero for church buildings. The landing pages for net zero carbon churches and net zero carbon schools, and the Net Zero webinar programme to help you on that path. Heating guidance, energy efficiency guidance and inspiring case studies.
Foundry Wood
The Foundry Wood is a small community woodland and outdoor learning space in Leamington Spa. It is managed by volunteers who provide environmental education, and delivery community events structured around local nature and wildlife. It is also open to the public on most days for everyone to enjoy.
Notable projects they have delivered include reinstating and restoring the Foundry Wood Pond in 2023, and the creation of a new Woodland Management plan.
They are running a wide range of events in the coming months, such as a Mammal Monitoring Morning, Moth Morning, and a Craft, AGM and Afternoon tea.
A full list of upcoming events can be found here.
To get in touch, or sign up to their mailing list, please email friendsoffoundrywood@gmail.com.
Heart of England Community Energy
Heart of England Community Energy is a community benefit society that owns one of the largest community solar farms in the UK. Located just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, their 15-megawatt array, made up of around 60,000 solar panels, has been generating clean and sustainable electricity since 2016. Their profits are redistributed back into the local community through a variety of schemes:
Their Community Grant Fund offers at least £50,000 each year for local charities and CICs to deliver small community benefit and carbon reduction schemes.
They support an energy advice service delivered by Act On Energy. It helps local households access energy bill relief funding, support energy supplier disputes and identify and fund energy efficiency measures that could make a long-term difference.
They now offer Solar Soft Loans to local community organisations and schools. The Loans are designed to support local organisations in funding rooftop solar panels, LED lighting, energy efficiency upgrades and energy audits.
For more information, or to express your interest in any of the above initiatives, please email info@hecommunityenergy.org.