Read or download our guides for step-by-step instructions on running a successful community energy project
Support and guidance
These agencies provide a range of advice, information, training and other support to community organisations. Not all of them cover the entire UK, and many have services available to members only.
The availability of different support services varies from region to region. A useful starting point for identifying local support services in your area is through the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action directory (if you are in England), the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations in Scotland or the Wales Council for Voluntary Action in Wales, or your local authority.
The VolResource website has detailed listings of support bodies for the voluntary and community sector, broken down into general support, function-specific support (such as finance, law, volunteering) and issue-based support bodies (such as youth and specific advice services).
If you offer a support service that may be relevant to community energy work and would like to be added to this page, please contact us.
| Agency | Countries covered |
|---|---|
| ACRE - Action with Communities in Rural England ACRE is the national umbrella of the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN), which supports rural communities across the country. Services include advice and support, campaigning, lobbying, networking, newsletters and rural policy development. The national network of village hall advisors provides an advice and information service for village hall management committees. 01285 65347 | England Only |
| Advice Now An independent, not-for-profit website providing up-to-date information on rights and legal issues. Topics covered include benefits, tenancy issues, discrimination, health and social care. | UK Wide |
| ARVAC - Association for research in the voluntary and community sector A national membership organisation and resource for people interested in research in or on community organisations. Has an on-line bibliographic database of 3,000 community-based studies, research and advice on how to carry out research; policy briefings, and reports on research in progress. Members can access seminars and conferences and quarterly bulletins | Worldwide |
| ASCC - Association of Scottish Community Councils The Association of Scottish Community Councils is the National Representative and Campaigning Body for all the Community Councils of Scotland. It is independent of all governments - national and local, and all other interests | Scotland |
| Awel Aman Tawe Awel Aman Tawe is a community energy charity in South Wales. Its objects are:
To advance the education of the public relating to energy efficiency and renewable resources | Wales |
| BASSAC The national network of multi-purpose community based organisations. The network supports organisations helping deprived neighbourhoods across the UK. Bassac programmes cover collaboration, impact, leadership, sustainability and voice. Responds to policy, campaigns and organises events and networking on behalf of the sector. 020 7336 9442 | UK Wide |
| Big Green Book
A one-stop resource on business and the environment, aimed at helping companies align business operations with environmental management and business success. | UK Wide |
| Black Environment Network BEN works to enable full ethnic participation in the built and natural environment. Directly runs a number of projects but also represents ethnic issues through influencing policy and fuelling debate, stimulating and supporting ethnic participation in environmental issues and supporting mainstream organisations to work with ethnic communities through training and consultancy. 01286 870715 | UK Wide |
| British Youth Council Promotes young people's views to government and supports their participation in the communities in which they live and wider civil society. BYC provides a range of services to develop and support individual young people, youth-led member organisations and organisations wanting to involve young people in their work. 0845 458 1489 | UK Wide |
| CAN - Community Action Network Supports the development of social enterprise across the UK. Offers business based growth support and technical support, networking, training and advice on social entrepreneurship. 0845 456 2537 | UK wide |
| Capacity Builders The body put in charge of managing the government's ChangeUp funding to improve the capacity of the sector. Up until March 2008, six national 'Hubs of Expertise' for the sector in England were funded by Capacitybuilders, material is still available from those hubs:
Finance:
www.financehub.org.uk | England Only |
| CDX CDX is the UK-wide membership organisation for community development. CDX works to ensure that community development is recognised and supported as a powerful way of tackling inequality and achieving social justice. 0114 241 2760 | UK Wide |
| Centre for Alternative Technology They run an extensive range of training courses, undertake research and publish large amounts of practical and theoretical material. | UK Wide |
| Community Foundation Network Community foundations are charities located across the UK dedicated to strengthening local communities. They manage local funds donated by individuals and organizations, and are one of the largest funders of community organisations in the UK. You can use the site to identify your nearest Community Foundation to find out about local grants for community projects in your area. | UK Wide |
| Community Generation Fund The Community Generation Fund is a national fund created to provide a catalyst for the widespread development of community owned renewable energy infrastructure. The fund was launched in March 2012 and provides commercial but creative loan funding for communities at the pre-planning (“development”) stage of their projects, as well as the construction (post-planning) stage. Development loans are contingently-repayable loans for design, environmental and other external costs involved in achieving the required planning and other consents/licenses. The construction loans are long-term loans for equipment, construction and commissioning costs (post planning consent) available either stand-alone or alongside bank finance. | UK wide |
| Community Sustainable Energy Programme (CESP) CSEP is an open grants programme run by BRE as an award partner of the Big Lottery Fund (BIG). It will provide £8 million to community-based organisations for the installation of microgeneration technologies, and energy efficiency measures. It will also provide £1 million for project development grants that will help community organisations establish if a microgeneration and energy efficiency installation will work for them. | England Only |
| Cooperatives UK Co-operatives UK is a member based organisation for co-operatives across the country. Its aim is to represent the interests of member co-operatives and develop and extend the co-operatives sector as a whole. | UK Wide |
| Changeworks Changeworks exists to improve quality of life and to protect the environment. Changeworks work with passion, integrity and in collaboration to develop and deliver innovative projects and businesses in energy, waste prevention and transport that inspire and empower people and communities to make a difference. Changeworks can provide training and signposts to other training providers in Scotland. | Scotland |
| Charities Aid Foundation Provides financial services to charities and their supporters (donors), setting up and managing donor schemes and banking, investment and fundraising services for charities and social enterprise. 01732 520 000 | Worldwide |
| Charities Evaluation Service Supports the development of monitoring, evaluation and quality systems for voluntary and community sector work. Offers consultancy, resources and training. 020 7713 5722 | UK Wide |
| Charities Trustee Network The National Charity for Trustees, providing opportunities for charity trustees to share knowledge and experience with each other, signposting to information and services and giving trustees a voice to influence national policy. Offers networking events, web resources and discussion forum and advice around trusteeship and governance for voluntary and community organisations. 01483 230280 | UK Wide |
| Community Energy Scotland An independent Scottish Charity, actively supporting and funding community groups throughout Scotland to develop sustainable energy projects. Community Energy Scotland delivers the community stream of the Scottish Government's Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) in the Highlands and Islands. | Scotland |
| Community Central
Community Central is a free online hub for UK communities focussed on environmental change | UK Wide |
| Communities First Communities First is the Welsh Assembly Government's flagship programme to improve the living conditions and prospects of people in the most disadvantaged communities across Wales. Communities First provides opportunities for people living in areas we term to be disadvantaged, and the agencies that deliver services in those communities, to examine the realities of poverty and to learn and work together to address it. They provide support workers to help facilitate projects in designated areas and a support and communications network including help with setting up and finding funding for projects. | Wales |
| Community Matters (National Federation of Community Association) The National Federation for Community Organisations. Provides advice and information services and national representation for mainly volunteer led community organisations. Offers a free advice line to answer simple enquiries on managing a charity, its premises, activities, trading activities and social and contractual relationships. Also free monthly legal surgeries in London covering employment law, leases, incorporation (as a company), contracts and Intellectual Property. Places must be pre-booked. Some services and responses to more detailed enquires are only available to members or through a consultancy fee 020 7837 7887 communitymatters@communitymatters.org.uk Advice line: 0845 847 4253 | England and Wales |
| Community Transport Association Offers training, publications, advice, events and project support on voluntary, community and accessible transport across the UK. 0845 130 6195 | UK Wide |
| Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations Capacity building the minority ethnic voluntary and community sector, including a free helpline for the sector, campaigning and networking etc. Six regional offices including a Scottish and Welsh Office. 020 8432 0200 | England, Scotland and Wales |
| Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that promotes sustainable development and provides practical information to help people live sustainably. Operating at the boundary between government, business, and civil society, Cynnal Cymru is uniquely positioned to assimilate the views of each group and generate communication between them that will result in positive action for sustainable development | Wales |
| Department for Communities and Local Government The Government Department responsible for setting policy on local government, housing, fire and rescue, urban regeneration, planning building and the environment. Has responsibility for all race equality and community cohesion related issues in England and for building regulations, fire safety and some housing issues in England and Wales. Website has summaries of all policies and downloadable guidance and information about present policy and statistics. 020 7944 4400 | England Only |
| Development Trusts Association Development trusts are community owned and led organisations. They use self-help, trading for social purpose, and ownership of buildings and land, to bring about benefits in their community. The DTA is a network of over 400 Trusts across the UK (including Scotland and Wales), it provides a number of products and services to help people set up development trusts, and help existing trusts learn from each other. 0845 458 8336 | UK Wide |
| Directory of Social Change An independent charity providing information and training to the voluntary and community sector across the UK. Training and publications cover fundraising, organisational development, management and leadership, communication, and finance etc. Hosts www.governmentfunding.org.uk (a searchable on-line directoy of voluntary and community sector government grants, free for organisations with a turnover of under £500k). Also hosts www.trustfunding.org.uk and www.companygiving.org.uk. (accessed via a subscription fee). 08450 77 77 07 | UK Wide |
| Energy Action Scotland Energy Action Scotland is the charity whose mission statement is to eliminate fuel poverty in Scotland. Its corporate aims are:
- raising awareness of fuel poverty, particularly as it affects low income households; maintaining fuel poverty as a national issue of high priority; and - working towards affordable warmth for all; - securing public and private investment for domestic energy efficiency initiatives. | Scotland |
| Energy Saving Community Offers a reference point for advice on working as a community to save energy, including a limited free expert advice service along with information on different energy sources and developing community projects. | UK Wide |
| Energyshare Aims to fundamentally change the way people use and generate energy. The site brings people together in person and online, to challenge the status quo and get more control over where energy comes from, how much you use and how much you pay for it. | UK Wide |
| Environment Wales Environment Wales is a partnership in the voluntary sector, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. Their aim is to contribute to sustainable development by supporting and encouraging voluntary action to protect and improve the environment. | Wales |
| Forward Scotland Forward Scotland carries out its work through a range of development projects and grant schemes funded by private and public sources. Working with clients, strategic partners and community groups, activities research key themes and issues of sustainable development to produce innovative and practical solutions. Through the design and delivery of grant schemes Forward Scotland help communities across Scotland improve their local environment and achieve a better and more sustainable quality of life. | Scotland |
| Friends of the Earth Friends of the Earth (FoE) are one of the largest global environmental NGOs, operating in 68 countries world-wide. The website offers a range of resources, guides and reports. See the community site http://www.foe.co.uk/get_involved/community.html for information about local FOE community groups. | Worldwide |
| Funder Finder Produces software and other resources for grant-seekers, specialising in charitable trusts and foundations that fund in the UK. Some resources are free although the full searchable software must be purchased or accessed through your local library or community support service. Free resources inlclude 'Apply Yourselves' (helps groups write effective funding applications) and 'Budget Yourselves' (helps groups write effective budgets). | UK Wide |
| Groundwork Groundwork supports communities in need, working with partners to help improve the quality of people's lives, their prospects and potential and the places where they live, work and play. They work alongside communities, public bodies, private companies and voluntary sector organisations to deliver projects and programmes focused around people, places and businesses. | UK Wide |
| Help the Aged Help the Aged is one of the largest charities working in the UK with older people. The organisation has four main aims; combating poverty; reducing isolation; defeating ageism and challenging poor care standards. | UK Wide |
| Homes and Communities Academy The national academy (part of the Homes and Communities Agency) for improving the skills and knowledge of those working to `create and maintain communities'. Offers web based resources include careers information and briefing notes along with training and events and a `demystifying climate change microsite'. 0113 394 4630 | England Only |
| Ideas into Action PEP is a not for profit organisation working with statutory and voluntary agencies and local communities, to improve services and make sure they meet the needs of local people. | England and Wales |
| Joseph Rowntree Foundation The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. Most of the JRF reports can be downloaded for free from the website | UK Wide |
| Local United
Diffusion packs on setting up social enterprises, which have been written and reviewed by people with first-hand knowledge of the community and climate action sectors they work in. | UK Wide |
| Low Carbon Communities Network The Low Carbon Communities Network was formed to link, network and support the rapidly growing movement of climate change groups that are forming at local and community level. | UK Wide |
| National Energy Foundation Helps UK citizens address issues of climate change through practical advice and help in installing energy saving measures and implementing appropriate renewable energy sources. The NEF website has resources for individuals, organisations and schools, and details of the NEF sustainable energy training programme. 01908 665555 | UK Wide |
| National Housing Federation The National Housing Federation represents 1,400 independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England and is the voice of affordable housing. Their members provide over 2 million homes for 4 million people. Offers advice and guidance across the range of social housing and neighbourhood issues, along with campaigns, events and training. | England |
| NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) The umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England. Services include a free telephone advice line, campaigning and lobbying on behalf of the sector, networking, policy development, research and training. The NCVO website has a useful directory of community umbrella organisations 0800 2 798 798 | England Only |
| NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) The national voice of local voluntary and community sector infrastructure organisations in England. NAVCA focusses on working for local community support services rather than individual voluntary or community organisations. See NAVCA Directory of members and local contacts for a useful directory you can use to identify local community support services in your area. 0114 278 6636 | England Only |
| Office for Civil Society-Big Society Part of the Cabinet Office. The Big Society is about helping people to come together to improve their own lives. It’s about putting more power in people’s hands. The Office for Civil Society, part of the Cabinet Office, works across government departments to translate the Big Society agenda into practical policies, provides support to voluntary and community organisations and is responsible for delivering a number of key Big Society programmes. http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/big-society 020 7276 6400 | UK Wide |
| Planed Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise & Development A community led local development partnership whose role is to encourage the widest possible participation of local people. Their initiatives give local communities the chance to join in; contribute their skills and knowledge and promote projects of long-term benefit. | Wales (Pembrokeshire) |
| Planning Aid for Scotland Planning Aid for Scotland was established in 1993 to provide people across Scotland with information and support to engage in the planning system. Planning Aid for Scotland is:
1. A unique and independent, national organisation that helps people to engage in the planning process. | Scotland |
| Planning Portal The UK Government's online planning and building regulations resource for England and Wales. The site can be used to learn about planning and building regulations, apply for planning permission, find out about development near you, appeal against a decision and research government planning policy. | England and Wales |
| Project Dirt Project Dirt facilitates sustainable activities and aims to make learning more accessible. Project Dirt's purpose is to help connect those doing their own projects so they can collaborate, as well as let those wanting to be greener learn from real people doing real projects. The site provides individuals, community groups, companies, organisations and the government (mainly local authorities) a platform to come together and work on tangible green projects. | England |
| Ruralnet An independent rural regeneration charity, promoting a living and working countryside. It runs a free web-based rural development information service called InfoRurale (http://www.inforurale.org.uk) a subscription extranet service called ruralnet|online (www.ruralnet.org.uk) which provides networking facilities for rural voluntary organisations. 0845 1300 411 | UK Wide |
| Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the umbrella body for voluntary organisations in Scotland. Through its members, elected representatives, paid staff and volunteers, it represents the interest of the Third Sector and provides services to help voluntary organisations across Scotland to work more effectively | Scotland Only |
| TPAS - Tenant Participation Advisory Service Provides information, advice, conferences, training and consultancies on all aspects of involving social housing tenants in housing management. Works with residents and landlords to encourage participation. TPAS England covers England, while TPAS Scotland and Cymru cover Scotland and Wales respectively. | England, Scotland and Wales |
| UnLtd Unltd supports `social entrepreneurs' - those who are not part of a formal organisation and are working as individuals or on a social enterprise model to benefit the community. Unltd defines social entrepreneurs as `people with vision, drive, commitment and passion who want to change the world for the better'. Individuals can access a package of funding and support to help make their ideas to benefit the community a reality. 0207 566 1100 | UK Wide |
| Voluntary News VoluntaryNews is run by VolResource and carries relevant and practical voluntary and community sector news from across the UK. You can subscribe to a weekly email newsletter. News is searchable by location and issue and the site also contains an events diary. | UK Wide |
| Voluntary Resource The website provides a wide range of practical resources for people involved community work, including briefings, contact information, specialist sources, suppliers etc. The site acts as a portal, bringing together a wide range of links to relevant web sites including detailed listings of support services for the sector. All the information is contained on the website, Voluntary Resource does not offer a telephone advice service. | Europe |
| Women's Environment Network Works to educate, inform and empower women and men who care about the environment. Network of 40 local groups across the country. 0207 841 9004 | UK Wide |
| WCVA The WCVA represents and campaigns for voluntary organisations, volunteers and communities in Wales. Offers training, briefing papers, funding advice etc. 0800 2888 329 | |
| 2 degrees 2degrees is the world leading online community of over 11700 sustainability professionals from over 90 countries. The Community is built upon subject-specific Working Groups that concentrate the right people and knowledge in one place. |