Community Buildings NEWSLETTER SPRING 2022

SPRING 2022

COMMUNITY BUILDINGS NEWSLETTER

It was lovely to meet up with some of you 'in person' at our first informal networking session, hosted by Norton Fitzwarren Village Hall. We would love to arrange similar get-togethers in other areas of the county. If you are interested in hosting a session, please do get in touch. (sallys@somersetrcc.org.uk) Don't forget to renew your annual membership of CCS and to let us know of any changes to the key contacts for your hall. You can renew online here.

This issue includes details of our spring events programme (P2), as well as an update on our new project to support environmental improvements in halls (P4-5).

The 'Hall of the Month' is Baltonsborough Village Hall, where the committee have been working to reduce energy consumption in the building and to nurture biodiversity (6-7).

Information on new funds can be found on P8-9. We also have a new grants list for halls looking for funding which can be downloaded from the members' area of our website. We will be updating this on a monthly basis.

Lastly, if you need to relax, take a minute to watch this short film about village halls here.

(Password is wilby). Some village hall mindfulness!

Have a lovely Easter break.

In this issue TRAINING AND EVENTS P2 ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT P4-5

BALTONSBOROUGH VILLAGE HALL P6-7

FUNDING NEWS P8-9 SOMERSET SOCIAL

ENTERPRISE NETWORK P10 BBC RADIO SOMERSET MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARDS P12

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TRAINING AND EVENTS Renewable Energy and Community Buildings Wednesday 27th April 10am – 12pm (Online)

An overview of the renewable energy options for community buildings. What steps should you take before installing these technologies. Are they suitable for your hall and what are the longer term management requirements?

For more information and to book click here

How to undertake a risk assessment Tuesday 10th May 2022 9.30am – 1pm Cheddon Fitzpaine Memorial Hall

This session will look at why, and how, to carry out an effective risk assessment. It will be a hands on practical session. Participants will conduct a walkaround risk assessment of the hall and its grounds, and compare their findings at the end of the session.

For more information and to book click here

Understanding Safeguarding Responsibilities Tuesday 24th May 10am – 12pm (online)

Hall trustees have a duty of care to everyone that enters their building. This session offers an introduction to safeguarding in order to help committees fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities. Safeguarding training for one or more trustees is now a requirement of Hallmark Two accreditation.

For more information and to book click here

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https://utility-aid.co.uk/

ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE PROOFING PROJECT UPDATE

Funded by

ONLINE EVENTS It has been fantastic to have so many members joining our online webinars. If you were unable to attend, you can watch the event recordings here:

Project launch How to Undertake a DIY Energy Audit Making Space for Nature at your hall

ENERGY AUDITS So far, our associates have undertaken four professional energy surveys of member halls in Somerset.

Thank you to everyone that applied for an audit. We were heavily oversubscribed, but we are seeking additional funding to cover the cost of undertaking further audits.

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COMING SOON.......

Join us on our next online event when we will be exploring the options for installing renewable energy technologies in community buildings.

Keep an eye on the Community Buildings page of the CCS website. We will shortly be uploading a

range of useful links, resources, case studies and news on environmental issues.

ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE PROOFING PROJECT UPDATE REDUCING ENERGY USE AT YOUR HALL A DIY energy survey is a good starting point when

assessing how to reduce energy use in your hall. It will help to identify and prioritise cost-effective improvements.

When undertaking the audit, work as a team and draw on local skills within your community.

When prioritising actions, start with the ‘quick wins’ and don't forget behavioural changes ie how people use the building.

Before considering large investments in a new heating system or renewables, look first at how to reduce heat loss through better insulation and draughtproofing.

Download our new DIY Energy Audit from the members' area of the CCS website or contact us for a copy. Let us know if you need some 121 advice on the audit process, drawing up an action plan or seeking funding.

USEFUL LINKS CSE Low / zero cost energy improvements to community buildings Utility Aid 10 ways to make your village hall greener Centre for Sustainable Energy Renewable Energy Hub Village Halls: Beacons of Hope

Somerset Climate Action Network Somerset Wildlife Trust Team Wilder

(Sallys@somersetrcc.org.uk)

A remote heating control system at Woolavington Village Hall The committee at Woolavington Village Hall have installed a remote heating control system to reduce energy use. This system allows them to sync the building's thermostats with their hall bookings calendar (HallWizard) so that the heating is only on when needed.

The system can be controlled in a number of ways, but they have chosen to use a website login so that a couple of committee members can access it to make any necessary changes. If the heating fails to come on users have access to the controls and can ‘boost’ the system for a 90-minute period.

The system cost approximately £200 from Inspire Home Automation. It is too early to know yet how effective this has been in saving energy. However, it has already saved considerable time and effort for the committee in not having to go to the hall in order to change settings.

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A GREENER VILLAGE HALL AND PLAYING FIELD FOR BALTONSBOROUGH Baltonsborough Village Hall was built in the 1990s as a dual-purpose building, (shared with the primary school), with an energy supply reliant on oil and electricity. With rising electricity prices and a desire to reduce their carbon footprint, the hall committee developed a project to 'green up' their hall and playing field. In 2021 they were awarded £30,000 from the Somerset Climate Emergency Fund, enabling them to put this plan into action.

Greening the Village Hall The first significant investment was to install a 21KW solar array consisting of 52 solar panels on the village hall roof. Despite the roof facing East West, this array has already produced over 12,500KW of energy during the first five months and saved an estimated 7 tonnes of carbon.

A destratification fan. A high ceiling in the main hall meant that rising hot air led to wasted heat and a significant temperature difference between the floor and ceiling. A new destratification fan now recirculates the heat back down through the space. In high ceiling buildings, destratification fans can save as much as 20% of heating costs

With the array producing more energy than they need, the committee now plan to install a Tesla Powerwall battery and have signed up to the Smart Export Guarantee Scheme to earn money from the excess electricity produced.

This new power supply has also enabled the committee to install two electric vehicle charging points, which are free for hall users.

An EPC assessment of the hall highlighted two other lower cost energy saving measures: Replacing the existing lights with energyefficient Led lighting throughout.

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"Our future plans are to replace oil with a renewable source of energy, further improve the hall's insulation and to assess the environmental footprint of all goods purchased". Amanada Clow, Chair of Baltonsborough Village Hall.

Cost breakdown: Solar array - £15,270 Tesla battery -£8,383 Destratification fan -£1,802 LED lighting - £1,625 Two Rolec EV charging points - £1,540

A GREENER VILLAGE HALL AND PLAYING FIELD FOR BALTONSBOROUGH

Greening the Playing Field

Greening the playing field

The hall benefits from a large playing field for recreation and sports but the committee felt it offered little of value for wildlife. Following an audit by the Somerset Wildlife Trust, the committee left a 2 metre unmown strip around the edge of the field, as well as a further 1 metre strip which is only mown once a month. This has enabled dormant native wildflowers to flourish, including Wild Onion and the Corky Fruited Water Dropwort!

Local people have stepped forward to support the project, with over 30 volunteers helping to plant 500 wildflower perennial plugs, as well as new trees and 120 metres of hedging. Local gardeners have also assisted by nurturing further wildflower perennials from seed in their greenhouses.

Cost breakdown: 200 hedging plants, canes and spirals - £426 Mulch - £50 Wild flower seed - £105 350 hedging plants and 450 wildflower plants were donated.

Whilst the hall improvements have been the most expensive element of this project, the playing field improvements have proved far more labour intensive! However, this activity has set in motion a much wider community movement to protect and enhance local biodiversity for future generations.

"The village hall provided inspiration and momentum for a wider set of biodiversity initiatives across the village. We now have an exciting programme planned for the Queens Platinum Jubilee including a Wildlife Friendly Open Gardens Day; Gardening for Wildlife booklet; plans to plant 70 new trees; and new bat and river walks". Mary Phillips, Baltonsborough Parish Council

Join us on our next online event 'Renewable Energy and Community Buildings' if you are considering installing renewable technologies at your hall.

Take a look at the Team Wilder page on the Somerset Wildlife Trust website for more ideas on how to make space for nature in your local community.

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FUNDING NEWS Garfield Weston Foundation This Foundation supports a broad range of charities across the UK and awards grants for capital, revenue, and project costs. There are two grant programmes depending on the size of grant requested (below or above £100,000). For more information click here.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund.

Supporting Rural Communities Grants of up to £25,000 over two years, for projects that will create a long-term difference in rural communities, and that demonstrate demand for the project from the community it serves.

Applications close on Tuesday 12th April 2022 and projects must be completed by 31st June 2024. For more information click here.

Western Power Distribution Community Matters Fund Grants of up to £10,000 to help charitable organisations respond to people suffering with their mental health due to loneliness and/or social isolation. The application deadline is 24th April 2022. Projects must be delivered and funding spent by 31st December 2022. For more information click here.

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FUNDING NEWS The Arnold Clark Community Fund Grants of up to £1,000 for registered charities and community groups that fall within their eligibility criteria and which focus on people and their communities. The deadline for applications is the 30th June 2022. For more information click here.

The Workplace Charging Scheme A government led voucher-based scheme that provides support towards the costs of purchasing and installing electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints.

Charities are eligible to apply. The grant covers up to 75% of the costs of purchase and installation but this is capped at a maximum of £350 per socket. For more information click here.

South West Water Water-Saving Community Fund A fund from South West Water for projects, (big or small), which aim to save water within your community. (Previously funded projects have included water saving toilets, water butts and rainwater harvesting systems). Grants of up to £30,000. The amount in the Fund every year is £75,00 and will close once all funds are awarded. For more information click here.

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Somerset Social Enterprise Network Don't forget that as members of CCS you are also able to access the free training, networking and support available through the Somerset Social Enterprise Network

OTHER SSEN EVENTS COMING SOON...

Measuring social impact 28 April, 10am-12pm. Plus 1 hour of 1-2-1 support for 5 members.

Networking 10 May, 7-8 pm. Guest speaker 9 June, 7-8pm. Guest speaker Coming soon......

Somerset Diverse Communities and Social Enterprise: May: Social media! Boost your engagement: June

Places are limited for all these events so please reserve your space early.

For more information on these events click here To reserve your place on an event that's coming soon email enhancesen@somersetrcc.org.uk

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BBC Radio Somerset Make a Difference Awards This year BBC Radio Somerset wants to celebrate and say thank you to people living in our villages, towns and cities who make where we live a better place.

Every day we hear stories of people doing incredible things for each other and their communities.

Now it’s time to recognise them for all their hard work.

Whether it’s caring for someone in need, being a brilliant neighbour, or inspiring children in the classroom, if you know someone who is really making a difference to our lives then you can nominate them for an Award There are 8 categories; • Volunteer • Community Group • Fundraiser • Carer • Great Neighbour • Key Worker • Environment • Together award You can nominate someone you know here, where you can also see full Terms and our Privacy Notice. Nominations are now open and will close on the 29th of April 2022 at 11:00pm. The winners will be announced at our Make a Difference awards ceremony in September.

And follow #BBCMakeADifference on Twitter and Facebook for more details.

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To find out how we use our personal information more generally see: https://ccslovesomerset.org/ccs-policies/ If you would like to opt-out of receiving future copies please use the unsubscribe button at the bottom of all our emails or contact info@somersetrcc.org.uk

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