Not-for-profit community groups in Cornwall are being invited to ‘power-up’ with the skills they need to build their membership and enjoy the environmental, social and financial benefits of delivering green energy projects thanks to a pioneering new training programme.

The “Powering-up Communities” programme offers a series of six workshops on a range of subjects, from setting up a group right through to raising funds to bring a renewable energy project to fruition.

The programme will be delivered by Community Energy Plus, supported by Kabin – the independent Co-operative development body for Cornwall.

In addition to the workshops, experts from both organisations will provide mentoring support tailored to the needs of participating groups – whatever their stage of development.

The training programme will help groups to guide the development of sustainable energy activities in their local area and will include talks by experts, workshops and supporting materials. Community Energy Plus and Kabin have extensive experience in this area and can guide groups through the necessary governance structures, planning process, community engagement activities, procurement and delivery of renewable energy projects, including the mechanisms for claiming the feed-in-tariff and ring-fencing community benefit funds for future generations.

There will be six workshops held over a period of two months. All of the workshops will be delivered twice across venues in mid and north Cornwall, starting in Truro on 7th March and in Bodmin on 14th March.

Funding for the “Powering-up Communities” programme has been provided by energyshare.

Full details of workshop dates and booking forms are available online at www.cep.org.uk/powering-up-communities

For further information please call 01872 245566 or email community@cep.org.uk